India’s aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has uncovered a host of significant safety lapses across airline operations, airport infrastructure, and simulator training following a recent surveillance audit at major airports, including the bustling Mumbai and Delhi airports.
The findings, released in a report on Tuesday, highlight serious concerns regarding ineffective defect monitoring, procedural violations, and the use of outdated data, prompting the DGCA to issue a strict seven-day deadline for corrective actions from the concerned operators.
This intensive round of inspections comes in the immediate aftermath of a fatal crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 and a series of recent in-flight technical failures that have sharply brought India’s aviation safety standards under public and regulatory scrutiny. The DGCA has affirmed that surveillance activities will continue across the aviation ecosystem to identify and eliminate safety hazards.
Key findings from the DGCA surveillance:
The detailed inspection revealed a troubling array of deficiencies, underscoring systemic vulnerabilities:
- Recurring Aircraft Defects: The DGCA’s audit found multiple instances of aircraft defects reappearing repeatedly, a clear indication that earlier rectifications were inadequate or that monitoring systems were ineffective.
- Unserviceable Ground Equipment: Crucial ground handling equipment, including baggage trolleys and BFL (Belt Loader) units, were found to be unserviceable, posing operational risks.
- Maintenance Protocol Breaches: Inspectors noted incomplete maintenance documentation, instances where safety precautions were bypassed, and critical components such as the thrust reverser system and flap slat lever were not properly secured.
- Unlogged Defects and Unsecured Equipment: Defect reports generated by aircraft systems were not consistently logged, and several life vests were discovered unsecured beneath passenger seats. In one specific case, corrosion-resistant tape on a winglet’s lower blade was found damaged.
- Airport Infrastructure Deficiencies: At one of the inspected airports, the center line marking of the runway was observed to be faded. Furthermore, the green lights on rapid exit taxiways were not unidirectional, potentially compromising guidance for pilots.
- Outdated Obstruction Data: Critically, obstruction limitation data had not been updated in over three years, despite ongoing construction activity in the vicinity of the aerodrome, raising concerns about flight path safety.
- Non-Compliant Ramp Vehicles: Several ramp vehicles were found operating without speed governors. These vehicles were subsequently withdrawn from service, with permits cancelled and drivers suspended.
- Simulator Training Flaws: A simulator used for pilot training was identified as not matching the actual aircraft configuration and was running outdated software, raising questions about the efficacy of pilot training.
- Pre-Flight Safety Compromise: In a separate incident, a scheduled domestic flight experienced a delay due to worn tires and was only cleared for departure after necessary repairs were completed.