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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Nearly half of technical posts in DGCA vacant
India's aviation safety regulator is operating with only 50% of its technical strength, with just 553 officials overseeing operations in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, according to an internal document reviewed by HT. The regulator's sweeping remit includes airline operations oversight to airport certification, with the technical posts crucial from safety perspective — these teams are tasked to carry out airworthiness assessments and operational surveillance. (PTI File) The regulator's sweeping remit includes airline operations oversight to airport certification, with the technical posts crucial from safety perspective — these teams are tasked to carry out airworthiness assessments and operational surveillance. According to documents seen by HT, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has48%of its 1,063 technical posts vacant, hampering its ability to enforce regulations and conduct safety audits effectively in the world's third-largest aviation market. Of these, 400 posts were sanctioned and added in 2022 but remain to be filled. The staffing shortage comes at a time of close scrutiny of Indian aviation safety following the crash of Air India Flight 171 crash that killed 260 people in June. The sector has been booming, with India becoming the third largest domestic market after the US and China post the pandemic. The regulator's technical posts vacant include flight operations inspectors, who oversee airline safety compliance, airworthiness officers who ensure aircraft meet safety standards, air safety officers who investigate incidents, and aeronautical engineers who provide technical oversight. Chief flight operations inspectors (FOI) and senior FOIs lead these critical safety functions. The crisis extends to senior leadership levels. Currently, all 18 deputy director general posts in DGCA are vacant—some for over five years. 'The last promotions for some of the posts were filled three years ago. This delay is affecting not just current operations but also the next tier of leadership,' said a former DGCA official on condition of anonymity. Of the vacant deputy director general (DDG) posts, six are from the airworthiness directorate, six from operations, two from air safety and four from other directorates including flying training and regulation information. The former official quoted above added that the vacancies have a cascading effect. 'Since DDG posts are empty, there's no one eligible for promotion to joint director general (JDG) post, which requires at least three years of DDG experience,' he added. 'The regulator at present has one vacant JDG post and 'if the backlog continues, we risk having a stage with no JDG officers in the coming years,' he added. A former bureaucrat stressed on the sweeping nature of the regulator's work. 'These officers are required in safety oversight in their respective areas, grant approval as assigned to them and contribute to policy making,' said this person, asking not to be named. 'If you remove one link, it no more remains a chain to bind any organisation. It's like removing all DCPs from Delhi police and then thinking that it can function with commissioners and inspectors.' 'The shortage of staff not only impacts safety but also the efficiency of the country's aviation regulator,' said another former bureaucrat, asking not to be named. 'The DGCA is undermanned and requires more specialists.' These issues were discussed at a July 9 meeting on civil aviation safety by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. Despite repeated attempts, the DGCA did not respond to queries. The ministry of civil aviation did not respond to requests for a comment. The second former DGCA official cited above added that the problem has existed for years due to 'slow recruitment procedures and lack of budget,' calling the shortage of trained personnel a major concern. The staffing crisis affects the regulator's core functions at a time when India is attempting to improve its International Civil Aviation Organization safety rankings. Despite being the third largest domestic market by volume, the country ranks 48, albeit an improvement from 102 in 2018. In other countries, regulators work with far larger workforces. The US FAA employs 46,170 people, although 14,000 of these are air traffic controllers, while the UK's Civil Aviation Authority has about 1,000-1,100 staff. The DGCA relies on around 70 contract consultants to bridge gaps, although it does not employ air traffic controllers (unlike the FAA), who are on rolls of the Airports Authority of India. Former joint director general JS Rawat said the government needs to attract qualified personnel from industry by making pay competitive with market standards. 'With the rate at which Indian aviation is growing, it is essential to keep up the pace. Manpower shortages lead to delays in the functioning of the regulator, such as granting airline approvals and conducting checks,' he added. Parliamentary discussions also touched on the DGCA's lack of independence. The regulator functions as a statutory body under the ministry of civil aviation with limited financial and staffing powers. In contrast, the FAA has moderate autonomy under the US Department of Transportation, while the UK's CAA and EU's EASA operate as highly autonomous entities. 'This lack of independence impacts DGCA's ability to make swift policy decisions and allocate resources effectively,' said an official aware of the discussions. 'Considering the country's growth trajectory, it's not just autonomy but also a long-term plan that is essential. The government must come up with a forward-looking strategy, including a structure that supports the sector's growth over the next 30 years,' the official concluded.
Hindustan Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
DGCA introduces special audits after Air India crash
New Delhi: A few days after an Air India aircraft crashed moments after take-off, killing 241 people on board, the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has introduced a new framework for 'Comprehensive Special Audits' with immediate effect. A truck carrying wreckage of the Air India plane that crashed into a medical hostel and its canteen complex passes by, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Sunday. (PTI) The circular dated June 19 stated that these audits will provide a holistic evaluation of the aviation sector, carefully examining safety, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. It also mentioned that the audit framework follows global best practices. The DGCA, in the circular seen by HT, said that special audits can be initiated based on mandatory triggers such as serious incidents or accidents, persistent regulatory non-compliance, safety audit findings, operational disruptions, or International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) audit findings. The aviation regulator added that these special audits will be conducted by expert teams led by a senior DGCA official (DDG or Director) as the lead auditor, supported by specialists from the Flight Standards, Air Safety, Airworthiness, Airspace & Air Navigation Services, Licensing, and Aerodrome Standards directorates. 'JDG (Joint director general) will lead the audit teams for surprise inspections or special audits as and when directed by the Director General. Whenever necessary, external experts from industry may be included to provide specialized insights. This diverse team composition ensures a comprehensive evaluation that leverages both regulatory expertise and industry-specific knowledge, fostering credible and actionable findings,' the circular said. Safety and regulatory checks in aviation have been carried out separately by different departments in the country. Each department inspects or audits only its specific area, such as airports, airlines, or air traffic control. These checks include scheduled inspections, surprise visits, and ramp checks to ensure rules and safety standards were being followed. With this, India is making a major change in how it checks aviation safety. The 'Comprehensive Special Audit', will look at the entire aviation system as a whole instead of focusing on parts separately, the order said adding that it will study how well aviation organisations manage safety, how they operate day to day, and whether they are following all regulations. 'The goal is to generate a 360-degree evaluation of the aviation ecosystem, reflecting both its strengths and areas needing improvement. These special audits will be over and above the regulatory audits carried out as per the Annual Surveillance Program,' the circular clarified. The circular also stated that this new or the special audit applies to all primary aviation entities, including scheduled, non-scheduled, and private air operators, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organizations, Approved Training Organizations (ATOs), Flying Training Organizations (FTOs), Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), aerodrome operators, and Ground Handling Agencies (GHAs). The audit, it said, will also look at other important parts of the aviation system, like technology providers, emergency services, supply chains, and coordination between different regulators, ensuring a complete view of how all parts of the aviation system work together. The audit uses a comprehensive approach to check all key parts of the aviation system, it said, adding that one part, called Safety Architecture, looks at how well safety management systems (SMS) are working, whether a strong safety culture is in place, and how risks are being managed. It also checks how hazards are identified and how safety performance is tracked. The Operational Excellence part, it said, reviews flight and ground operations, how well crews work together, and whether there are plans in place to keep operations running smoothly during disruptions. The Regulatory Compliance part checks if rules are being followed, including whether documents and licenses are valid and up to date. 'The audit process employs a combination of techniques, including document and record reviews to verify compliance, on-site inspections of facilities and equipment, structured interviews with management and operational staff, simulation and training record checks, and safety data trend analysis. These methods enable a thorough assessment of operational practices, safety culture, and systemic resilience. Audits may be tailored to the entity's size, complexity, and risk profile, ensuring efficiency and relevance in the evaluation process,' the circular said. Proactive scheduling includes annual ecosystem assessments, thematic audits targeting specific risks, and post-implementation reviews following major regulatory or technological changes,' it said. For regular audits, the DGCA stated, organisations will be given 14 working days' notice- for follow-up checks, they will get three working days' notice. It however, said that in urgent safety situations, audits can happen immediately. These audits will be done in three phases; the pre-audit phase ( that may take five to seven days) which will involve intelligence gathering, stakeholder consultation, risk profiling, and audit plan development, the on-site audit Phase ( which may take three to five days) that will include an opening meeting to clarify objectives, followed by document reviews, inspections, interviews, process observations, and daily debriefs to discuss preliminary findings. The post audit phase, which the circular stated, may take 10-15 days, includes finding validation, risk assessment, final report preparation, and publication. 'Special audit findings will be categorized as Immediate Corrective Action (Level 1) safety risks requiring 7-day resolution, Short-Term Corrective Action (Level 2) significant concerns with 30-day resolution, Long-Term Corrective Action process improvements with 90-day resolution,or Observations (positive practices for adoption) in accordance with the manual of Regulatory Audit of DGCA. Findings from the ramp inspection will be classified in accordance with the guidance provided in ICAO Doc-8335 (Manual of Procedures for Operations Inspection, Certification and Continued Surveillance) / DGCA Ramp Inspection Manual,' it stated. It said that the audited entities must submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) and major as well as minor findings within 15 days of receiving the final report, detailing root cause analysis, remedial actions, preventive measures, implementation timelines, and success metrics. ' DGCA will monitor CAP implementation through progress reviews and verification audits, ensuring effective resolution of findings. Best practices will be shared across the industry, and exemplary efforts will be recognized to encourage a culture of continuous improvement,' it stated. It also said that the special audit supports a confidential approach, to foster open reporting and a positive safety culture. 'Safety information, commercial data, and personal details will be protected. Sharing of safety related information will be or to be published in the denotified form,' the circular read. Specifying about the right to appeal, the circular said, '.. Entities may appeal against audit findings through a structured mechanism and within established timelines as per applicable regulations and timeline prescribed therein.' The audit findings will be reviewed annually along with stakeholder surveys, international benchmarking to refine methodologies and adopt advanced tools, it said. Technology required to be adopted for continuity and integration, such as data analytics will enhance efficiency, and training to be reviewed continuously to ensure staff expertise, the circular added. The DGCA said that the circular introduces a new approach for carrying out comprehensive audits and focuses on improving safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
Gizmodo
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Gizmodo
This CarPlay Adapter for Apple Dominates Amazon, and It's Almost Free Today
Do you drive a car with Apple CarPlay built-in? Or maybe your car is a little too old to have it automatically activated already. Whatever the case may be, perhaps you just need a way to turn it on so you can stop plugging your phone in. Dealing with tangled cables, worn-out ports, or just forgetting the cords or hooking your phone up can be annoying. So why deal with it if you don't have to? Run to Amazon right now to get the JDG Wireless CarPlay Adapter for just $40, down from its usual price of $70. That's $30 off and a discount of 43%. See at Amazon Your songs, your maps, your calls on the go This small plug-and-play device connects to your car's USB port and turns your wired CarPlay system into a fully wireless one so you can stop having to mess with all the cords and connections. It's super easy to use, too. Just plug it in, pair it with your iPhone via Bluetooth, and you're good to go. Once you've set it up the first time, it reconnects automatically every time you start your car too, so you don't have to keep doing it over and over. It works with over 800 car models that already support Apple CarPlay, and it supports iPhones running iOS 10 and up. That covers a wide range of vehicles and devices, so chances are, if you've got CarPlay already, this will work without any issues. And you can have others in your car hook up to it as well via Bluetooth, so if you want your friends to choose music or use one of their apps, or one of many other use cases, you're both good to go. You also get both USB-A and USB-C cable options in the box, which makes the adapter compatible with pretty much any vehicle that supports CarPlay through a wired USB connection. And you can just tuck away the adapter where it doesn't take up any room, too. It doesn't require any modifications to your car, too. Because no one wants to have to deal with all that just to be able to use a feature on their phone. Here's the deal. You can get this adapter for just $40, but you're going to have to act fast if you want it for 43% off. Head over to Amazon and add it to your cart, and maybe get two. It's going to make your life a lot more convenient. See at Amazon
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Judges Scientific Full Year 2024 Earnings: Beats Expectations
Revenue: UK£133.6m (down 1.8% from FY 2023). Net income: UK£10.4m (up 9.5% from FY 2023). Profit margin: 7.8% (up from 7.0% in FY 2023). The increase in margin was driven by lower expenses. EPS: UK£1.57 (up from UK£1.46 in FY 2023). We've found 21 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free. All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 1.1%. Earnings per share (EPS) also surpassed analyst estimates by 8.9%. The primary driver behind last 12 months revenue was the Vacuum segment contributing a total revenue of UK£69.0m (52% of total revenue). The largest operating expense was General & Administrative costs, amounting to UK£59.7m (74% of total expenses). Explore how JDG's revenue and expenses shape its earnings. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 7.3% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 5.0% growth forecast for the Machinery industry in the United Kingdom. Performance of the British Machinery industry. The company's shares are down 17% from a week ago. You still need to take note of risks, for example - Judges Scientific has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
