We can't afford to be casual about protocols: Why AI 171 must be a turning point in India's aviation journey
Earlier this year, more than 60 people were killed when an American Airlines Flight 5342 Bombardier collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and crashed into the Potomac near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. And now comes the tragedy of AI 171. So, what are the lessons these incidents offer? Above all, we can't afford to be casual about protocols. A key issue is that procedures are documented, but not always followed. Planes are built to be robust. But this very reliability sometimes leads technicians and crew to skip routine checks, assuming everything is in order. After a tragedy, the system usually swings into action. But, over time, the urgency fades and a relaxed attitude creeps back in. This needs to be addressed.
Following the Ahmedabad crash, DGCA stepped in with interim measures, instructing Air India to conduct maintenance checks specifically on Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft fitted with GEnx engines. These actions are being coordinated with regional DGCA offices. But, going forward, regulatory bodies and airline managements must make spot checks an SOP to ensure simple routines are fully adhered. Routine inspections include fuel system diagnostics, electronic engine control systems, actuator function tests, oil and hydraulic system reviews, and a proper examination of take-off parameters. Introducing a structured 'flight control inspection' process at times could fix procedures and remove laxity.One clear path of responding to these challenges more effectively is through technology. With AI-powered tools, flight safety can be approached more proactively. For instance, AI can assist air traffic controllers with real-time data, helping them make quicker and better-informed decisions. It can also support predictive maintenance by analysing live data from aircraft sensors to flag potential faults before they become serious.
AI-powered flight simulators can create dynamic, adaptive training scenarios for pilots, moving beyond the limitations of traditional drills. Even risk assessment processes are evolving. AI can now process vast sets of data, including weather patterns, pilot behaviour and historical crash information, to suggest safer and more efficient flight paths.
AI 171 is the deadliest air disaster in India since the mid-air collision over Charkhi-Dadri in Haryana in 1996, which claimed 349 lives. A week after the AI 171 crash, there are more questions than answers. How could a Dreamliner, considered one of the safest aircraft models with no history of fatal crashes until now, go down moments after take-off? Were there warning signs that went unnoticed? At this point, we don't have those answers. We will have to wait for the official investigation to shed light on what really happened. What makes this even more concerning is the backdrop against which it unfolded. India's civil aviation sector is expanding rapidly, with more people choosing to fly than ever before. GoI has already outlined its vision of turning the country into a major aviation hub, one that can stand alongside global giants.While meeting rising demand and improving passenger experience are part of that plan, there's another layer that can't be ignored: trust. A tragedy like AI 171 shouldn't derail the momentum. But it highlights the need for stricter checks and complete transparency. Whoever is accountable must be held responsible. More importantly, steps must be taken to ensure such horror doesn't happen again.The writer is group chairman, Sky One (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Small finance banks struggle with perception. Will numbers turn the tide?
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The Wire
3 days ago
- The Wire
Crucial DGCA Unit Meant to Audit Aircraft Safety Is Half-Empty and Neglected
Mumbai: A crucial unit at the frontline of India's air safety apparatus, meant to keep a check on aircraft fitness, lies half-empty and neglected. India's Directorate of Airworthiness (DAW), a unit within the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is meant to conduct surprise technical checks on aircraft and ensure that private airline operators are not compromising on passenger safety. The job is crucial: within the DGCA, the DAW is meant to certify whether aircraft are 'air-worthy', which, as per the International Civil Aviation Organisation, means to check whether it is safe to fly. India's DGCA, in its manual, admits that the DAW is meant to investigate defects in aircraft and 'suggest corrective actions to arrest trends', to 'investigate major problems or defects', and to perform 'periodic and unannounced surveillance' checks on private airline operators to check if they are following safety norms. It is also meant to monitor the maintenance processes that airlines adopt, and verify that they aren't cutting corners. Yet, the DGCA has admitted, in a response to an Right to Information (RTI) query filed by this correspondent, that of the 310 total posts in the directorate, 133, i.e. 43% of them, are lying empty. But even more worrying are the vacancies in the posts of airworthiness officers (AWO), the backbone of the DAW and the first line of oversight into aircraft safety and maintenance. Of the 121 posts created for such officers, only 47 have been filled by the DGCA. The remaining 74 lie empty, meaning a whopping 61% vacancy rate. According to the DGCA's RTI response, despite such a high rate of vacancies, the pace of recruitment has been unhurried and sluggish. Since 2022, the DGCA has been able to appoint only 20 airworthiness officers, rather than fill up all the vacant posts. Also read: Half the Positions at DGCA Vacant, Says Civil Aviation Ministry Air-safety experts and insiders in the DGCA said such vacancies render the DAW toothless and powerless to be able to effectively monitor private airlines and their aircraft fleet. 'The airworthiness directorate is at the heart of air safety,' said Rajendra Prasad, a former director of the DAW who retired in June 2023. With such crippling shortages of manpower, Prasad said it was 'not possible at all for the DAW to function' and carry out its responsibilities. 'This situation benefits everyone: from those in the DGCA who don't want to work, as well as the private airline operators who can then cut corners in aircraft maintenance and safety without anyone watching,' Prasad said. This is a part of a dangerous pattern of negligence the DGCA suffers from: The Wire had, on June 19 this year, reported how the Modi government has cut the budget allocated to Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) – under which DGCA falls –from Rs 3,113 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 2,357 crore in 2024-25, despite the country's aviation sector only growing. Even worse, the ministry's capital outlay has been slashed by 91% since the 2023-24 budget and it now stands at just Rs 70 crore this year from Rs 755 crore two years ago. The Wire 's RTI query had asked the DGCA about the budget allotted to the airworthiness directorate. However, it said the information 'did not pertain to this office', and forwarded the query to another section for a response on July 10. Yet, 19 days on, there has been no further response from the DGCA. The Wire has sent emails to both, the DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai as well as the Press Information Bureau additional director general in-charge of the MoCA, Sanjay Roy, but they chose not to respond. A dangerous shortag The DAW's work – to perform both periodic, scheduled checks on airlines and surprise, unannounced checks, as well as track the maintenance systems that airlines employ to see whether they conform to standards – is crucial for India's aviation industry. The DAW, among all the 13 different wings within the DGCA meant to conduct surveillance inspections, carries out the highest number of such inspections. In 2024, according to the DGCA's surveillance plan, the DAW was to conduct 1,246 surveillance inspections, and in 2025, it is meant to conduct 1,596 such inspections. However, with 43% of the posts empty, many doubt the quality of these inspections. A former airworthiness consultant, appointed by the DGCA, said that such inspections were often conducted hastily. 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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
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Mint
4 days ago
- Mint
Mid-air scare: United Airlines declares 'Mayday' over engine failure, stays in air for 2 hours
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