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India Gazette
5 days ago
- India Gazette
DGCA flags major safety lapses at airports, orders corrective action within seven days
New Delhi [India], June 24 (ANI): During a recent surveillance drive, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) assessed the aviation ecosystem to ensure safety and identified several critical safety lapses at airports, including Mumbai and Delhi. The findings have prompted the aviation regulator to direct concerned operators to implement necessary corrective actions within seven days. The DGCA's surveillance of the major airports has revealed 'ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification action on the defects.' This focused safety assessment follows the issuance of an Order on June 19. Under this initiative, two teams led by the Joint Director General of DGCA conducted surveillance during the night and early morning hours, targeting key areas of aviation operations. These included flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, air traffic control (ATC), communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) systems, and pre-flight medical evaluations. During the inspection, multiple instances were observed where reported defects in aircraft systems had reappeared without adequate rectification, pointing to ineffective monitoring. Several pieces of ground handling equipment, such as baggage trolleys and BFL units, were found unserviceable. Multiple cases wherein the reported defects reappeared many times on the aircraft, indicating the ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification action on the defects/ repeated defects; Ground handling equipment such as baggage trollies, BFL, etc were found unserviceable; Line maintenance stores, tool control procedures were not followed, the release said. Maintenance procedures were also found lacking. In numerous cases, work orders were not followed, tool control procedures were ignored, and safety precautions outlined in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) were not adhered to. Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) were found neglecting defect rectifications, and critical fault reports were not logged in technical documents. Some aircraft were found with unsecured life vests and damaged corrosion-resistant tape on wing components. 'During maintenance of aircraft, the work order was not followed; The unserviceable thrust reverser system and Flap Slat Lever were not locked; during maintenance, Safety Precautions found not taken by AME as per AMM; at places, AME was not attending to the snag rectification; defect reports generated by the aircraft system, were not found recorded in the technical logbook; several life vests were not properly secured beneath their designated seats; the corrosion-resistant tape on the right-hand side winglet's lower blade was found to be damaged', the release added. Additional deficiencies were identified at the airport level. These included faded runway centre line markings, improperly functioning green centre lights on rapid exit taxiways, and outdated obstruction limitation data--unchanged for over three years despite new construction around aerodromes. Similarly, at an airport, the centre line marking of the runway was observed faded; The rapid exit taxiway green centre light was not unidirectional; the obstruction limitation data has not been updated for the last three years, and no survey has been performed despite many new constructions around the vicinity of the aerodrome; number of vehicles in the ramp area were found without speed governors. The release added that these vehicles were withdrawn by cancelling their AVP, and drivers' ADP were suspended. Several vehicles were operating without speed governors in the ramp areas. As a corrective step, their Airside Vehicle Permits (AVPs) were cancelled, and the drivers' Airside Driving Permits (ADPs) were suspended. A simulator inspection revealed mismatches with the aircraft configuration and outdated software, raising training standard concerns. A simulator was checked and found not to match the aircraft configuration. Also, the software was not updated to the current version, as mentioned in the release. In a separate case, a domestic flight was delayed due to worn-out tyres and was released only after necessary rectification was completed. A domestic flight of a scheduled carrier was held up due to worn tyres and it was released only after the required rectification was carried out. All the findings observed during the surveillance have been communicated to the concerned operators for taking necessary corrective actions within seven days, the release said. Based on these observations, the DGCA has formally communicated the findings to all concerned operators. They have been directed to implement all necessary corrective actions within seven days to address the identified safety risks. The DGCA emphasised that such comprehensive surveillance efforts will continue in the future to proactively identify and mitigate safety hazards in India's civil aviation ecosystem. (ANI)
The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
DGCA finds multiple violations related to airlines, airports, aircraft maintenance works
Aviation watchdog DGCA has detected multiple violations related to airlines, airports, aircraft maintenance works, and repeated defects in multiple cases during its surveillance at major airports, an exercise carried out in less than two weeks after the Air India plane crash. Without disclosing names of the airlines, airports and other entities in relation to the defects, the regulator on Tuesday (June 24, 2025) said surveillance covered multiple critical areas such as flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) systems, and pre-flight medical evaluations. From a faded centre line marking of a runway at an airport to non-updation of obstruction limitation data for three years to a scheduled carrier's domestic flight being held up due to worn tyres, the watchdog came across multiple defects in the aviation ecosystem. Also Read | Black box of crashed Air India plane is in India, being examined by AAIB: Civil Aviation Minister Noting that the comprehensive surveillance will continue in future to detect hazards in the aviation ecosystem, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the findings have been communicated to the entities concerned for taking corrective actions within seven days. Two teams led by the Joint Director General carried out the surveillance during night and early morning hours at major airports, including Delhi and Mumbai airports. In a detailed statement about the surveillance findings, DGCA listed multiple cases wherein the reported defects reappeared many times on the aircraft indicating ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification. Also Read | In a stern warning, DGCA asks Air India to remove executives overseeing crew, their duty hours 'Ground handling equipment such as baggage trollies... were found unserviceable; Line maintenance stores, tool control procedures were not followed,' it said. During maintenance of aircraft, the work order was not followed, DGCA said and added that the unserviceable thrust reverser system and flap slat lever were not locked. 'During maintenance, safety precautions found not (to have been) taken by AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) as per AMM (Aircraft Maintenance Manual); at places, AME was not attending to the snag rectification; defect reports generated by the aircraft system, were not found recorded in the technical logbook,' the statement said. Also Read | Ahmedabad plane crash: Air India CEO says crashed Dreamliner was well-maintained, undergone last major check in June 2023 Also, DGCA found that several life vests were not properly secured beneath their designated seats in aircraft and the corrosion-resistant tape on the right-hand side winglet's lower blade was found to be damaged. At an airport, centre line marking of a runway was observed faded and the rapid exit taxiway, green centre light were not unidirectional. The obstruction limitation data was found to have not been updated for last three years and no survey has been performed despite many new construction around the vicinity of aerodrome, DGCA said. However, names of the airports were not disclosed. Ground Zero | Skyfall in Ahmedabad 'A number of vehicles in the ramp area were found without speed governors. These vehicles were withdrawn by cancelling there AVP and drivers ADP were suspended,' the statement said. Further, the regulator said a simulator was found not matching with the aircraft configuration and that the software was not updated to the current version. Besides, a domestic flight of a scheduled carrier was held up due to worn tyres and it was released only after the required rectification was done, it added. Also Read | Air India Ahmedabad plane crash victims | Tales of grief and loss DGCA emphasised that it has initiated a focused assessment of the aviation ecosystem to strengthen safety measures across the sector. 'Throughout the surveillance, ground activities and aircraft movements were closely monitored to check the compliance of regulatory requirements and to identify weak areas for improvement,' the statement said. In the wake of the crash of the London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 plane soon after take off from Ahmedabad on June 12, DGCA has also put in place a special audit framework for a "360-degree" evaluation of the country's aviation ecosystem and transcend the current practice of siloed assessment.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
DGCA Violations: DGCA Uncovers Major Violations in Indian Aviation Safety Checks, ET TravelWorld
Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. All about ETTravelWorld industry right on your smartphone! Download the ETTravelWorld App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles. Aviation watchdog DGCA has detected multiple violations related to airlines, airports, aircraft maintenance works, and repeated defects in multiple cases during its surveillance at major airports, an exercise carried out in less than two weeks after the Air India plane crash Without disclosing names of the airlines, airports and other entities in relation to the defects, the regulator on Tuesday said surveillance covered multiple critical areas such as flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) systems, and pre-flight medical a faded centre line marking of a runway at an airport to non-updation of obstruction limitation data for three years to a scheduled carrier's domestic flight being held up due to worn tyres, the watchdog came across multiple defects in the aviation that the comprehensive surveillance will continue in future to detect hazards in the aviation ecosystem, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the findings have been communicated to the entities concerned for taking corrective actions within seven teams led by the Joint Director General carried out the surveillance during night and early morning hours at major airports, including Delhi and Mumbai a detailed statement about the surveillance findings, DGCA listed multiple cases wherein the reported defects reappeared many times on the aircraft indicating ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification."Ground handling equipment such as baggage trollies... were found unserviceable; Line maintenance stores, tool control procedures were not followed," it maintenance of aircraft, the work order was not followed, DGCA said and added that the unserviceable thrust reverser system and flap slat lever were not locked."During maintenance, safety precautions found not (to have been) taken by AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) as per AMM (Aircraft Maintenance Manual); at places, AME was not attending to the snag rectification; defect reports generated by the aircraft system, were not found recorded in the technical logbook," the statement DGCA found that several life vests were not properly secured beneath their designated seats in aircraft and the corrosion-resistant tape on the right-hand side winglet's lower blade was found to be an airport, centre line marking of a runway was observed faded and the rapid exit taxiway, green centre light were not unidirectional. The obstruction limitation data was found to have not been updated for last three years and no survey has been performed despite many new construction around the vicinity of aerodrome, DGCA names of the airports were not disclosed."A number of vehicles in the ramp area were found without speed governors. These vehicles were withdrawn by cancelling there AVP and drivers ADP were suspended," the statement the regulator said a simulator was found not matching with the aircraft configuration and that the software was not updated to the current a domestic flight of a scheduled carrier was held up due to worn tyres and it was released only after the required rectification was done, it emphasised that it has initiated a focused assessment of the aviation ecosystem to strengthen safety measures across the sector."Throughout the surveillance, ground activities and aircraft movements were closely monitored to check the compliance of regulatory requirements and to identify weak areas for improvement," the statement the wake of the crash of the London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 plane soon after take off from Ahmedabad on June 12, DGCA has also put in place a special audit framework for a "360-degree" evaluation of the country's aviation ecosystem and transcend the current practice of siloed assessment.
