6 days ago
Address safety lapses within a week: DGCA to airlines, airports
Mumbai: Recurring aircraft defects, unserviceable ground handling gear, and faded runway markings are among a range of safety lapses discovered by the civil aviation regulator after an intensive survey of key airports including Delhi and Mumbai.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered airport operators and airlines to address these safety concerns within a week.
The inspections come on the heels of the June 12 crash of an Air India plane in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people on board the aircraft and 34 on the ground. The accident triggered a sharp regulatory spotlight on the country's
aviation safety practices
.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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The DGCA said it launched the inspections subsequent to its June 19 safety order aimed at tightening oversight in the civil aviation sector. "We have initiated a focused assessment of the aviation ecosystem to strengthen safety measures across the sector," the regulator said in a statement.
Two DGCA teams, led by the joint director general, conducted overnight and early morning checks at major airports. It covered aircraft operations, maintenance practices, ramp safety, air traffic control, communication and navigation systems, and medical checks.
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The inspections revealed recurring issues that had been flagged previously but were not properly addressed. "Multiple cases wherein the reported defects re-appeared many times on the aircraft indicating the ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification action on the defects/ repeated defects," the DGCA said.
The regulator also found unserviceable ground handling equipment such as damaged baggage trolleys and lifting devices, and lapses in basic maintenance practices.
"Line maintenance stores, tool control procedures were not followed. 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," it noted.
In some cases, maintenance engineers did not attend to defects and failed to log critical issues flagged by aircraft systems. "Defect reports generated by the aircraft system were not found recorded in the technical logbook."
The DGCA also raised concerns over emergency preparedness, pointing out that "several life vests were not properly secured beneath their designated seats."
