DGCA Reveals Aviation Safety Lapses Amid Extensive Airline Audits

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently uncovered 263 safety lapses during 23 audits conducted over the past year on eight domestic airlines. The DGCA, while acknowledging these lapses, stressed that a higher incidence of findings is typical among airlines with extensive operations, citing the increased lapses witnessed in audits of Air India.

Data revealed 93 audit findings involving Air India and its now-merged entity Vistara, as well as Air India Express. Of these, 19 are classified as level-1 violations, which pose critical safety risks necessitating immediate corrective actions. Reports also indicated that around 100 violations related to Air India's training, crew rest, and airfield qualification norms were noted.

The DGCA's proactive audits aim to enhance airline safety compliance and continuous operational improvement. It maintains that the frequency of findings correlates with the scale of airline operations rather than indicating abnormal irregularities. Such processes, the watchdog assures, underscore effective regulatory scrutiny rather than concerns of systemic failure.

(With inputs from agencies.)