DGCA took punitive action against Air India Express for not following airworthiness rules: Minister
In a written reply, Mohol said, "During a surveillance inspection of Air India Express by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), it was found that Air India Express had not complied with the EASA Airworthiness Directive on the engines installed on the Airbus A320 aircraft."
The DGCA acted against the airline's Continuing Maintenance Manager, Quality Manager, and Accountable Manager under its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.
The Quality Manager's approval was cancelled. The Continuing Maintenance Manager was issued a warning letter and fined ₹1.5 lakh. The Accountable Manager was fined ₹30 lakh.
The DGCA conducts both planned and surprise inspections of airlines and maintenance organisations. These include routine and periodic audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections.
The regulator also publishes an Annual Surveillance Plan on its website every year, which outlines its audit and inspection schedule as per its Regulatory Audit Procedure Manual.
Mohol added that it is the responsibility of each airline to follow Service Bulletins and Airworthiness Directives issued by the aircraft's country of design or manufacture to ensure the aircraft remains safe and airworthy.(ANI)
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Indian Express
3 hours ago
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5 hours ago
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News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Working Hours Of Indian Pilots, Leaves Rules And Health Issues
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Air India and Indigo have placed orders for 1,000 aircraft to be delivered by 2035. Air India claims to have over 3,500 pilots, meeting current fleet requirements and DGCA norms on pilot rest and duty hours. Mental Health Concerns Pilots face extreme stress and depression due to irregular hours, long shifts, jet lag, and heavy responsibilities. Recent incidents like the Ahmedabad crash have led to an increase in pilots taking sick leave, highlighting mental health concerns. DGCA has recommended special programmes (such as peer support programmes) to assess and support the mental health of flight crew and air traffic controllers. Excessive work pressure and lack of rest can lead to burnout, physical and mental exhaustion, frustration, and reduced performance. Fatigue and Sleep Issues Frequent travel across time zones leads to severe jet lag in pilots, disrupting their sleep cycles and causing fatigue. Some may also suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, resulting in excessive daytime drowsiness and a heightened risk of accidents. The DGCA closely monitors such health issues due to their potential impact on flight safety. Irregular and frequently changing duty hours further disturb pilots' internal body clocks, preventing adequate rest. To address these concerns, the DGCA has recently proposed revised norms for pilot duty and rest hours to ensure better fatigue management. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Ahmedabad Plane Crash Air India Air Safety crew members DGCA fatigue leave pilots working view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 25, 2025, 19:07 IST News india Working Hours Of Indian Pilots, Leaves Rules And Health Issues | Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
