DGCA levied Rs 2 crore as penalty on aviation stakeholders in 2022 for violating norms – Times of India
NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) cracked the whip on aviation stakeholders like never before in 2022 for violating safety norms. It levied penalties of almost Rs 2 crore on them and took 305 enforcement action against various airlines, both scheduled and non-scheduled, airport operators and flying training organisations (FTO).
“Last year we levied levied financial penalties in 39 cases amounting to Rs 1.9 crore on various airlines, airport operators and FTOs. This included a penalty on IndiGo for wrongfully offloading a differently abled person; on Air India for not paying compensation to passengers against denied boarding; on SpiceJet for using simulator with unserviceable warning system for training of pilots and on Vistara for non-compliance to route dispersal guidelines,” said a senior DGCA official.
“Penalty was also imposed on five non scheduled operators for violation of standard operating procedures and over-logging of flying hours during Kedarnath yatra operations. Airports Authority of India was penalised for non-compliance of runway light requirements at Bhavnagar airport. Seventeen organisations, including Go Air, were also penalised for non–adherence to laid down guidelines on breath analysers checks,” he added.
The 305 enforcement steps taken by DGCA last year included actions of flight crew and air traffic controllers (ATCOs) leading to serious incidents and accidents, improper aircraft maintenance and inadequate airport facilities. Action taken against pilots, cabin crew, ATCOs and aircraft maintenance engineers for failing to clear breath analyser tests also come under this category. Many FTOs faced action for violating safety standards.
The DGCA had carried out the highest ever number of surveillance actions in a calendar year in 2022, at 4,378 checks of which 3,013 were planned and 1,365 unplanned. These include safety audits, ramp inspections, spot checks and night surveillance conducted till Thursday (Dec 22) on airlines, airport operators, approved organisations, flying training schools to check whether they are following safety standards.
Indian aviation safety oversight mechanism is now among the top 50 countries of the world at the 48th spot — a quantum leap from its 102nd rank four years ago. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in November 2022 audited DGCA to check its effective implementation (EI) of critical safety elements. The improved safety ranking will make it easier for Indian carriers to expand their wings abroad. Tata Group’s Air India and IndiGo have massive expansion plans. Airlines of countries with dubious aviation safety records find their aircraft being subjected to more surprise checks at airports abroad.
“Last year we levied levied financial penalties in 39 cases amounting to Rs 1.9 crore on various airlines, airport operators and FTOs. This included a penalty on IndiGo for wrongfully offloading a differently abled person; on Air India for not paying compensation to passengers against denied boarding; on SpiceJet for using simulator with unserviceable warning system for training of pilots and on Vistara for non-compliance to route dispersal guidelines,” said a senior DGCA official.
“Penalty was also imposed on five non scheduled operators for violation of standard operating procedures and over-logging of flying hours during Kedarnath yatra operations. Airports Authority of India was penalised for non-compliance of runway light requirements at Bhavnagar airport. Seventeen organisations, including Go Air, were also penalised for non–adherence to laid down guidelines on breath analysers checks,” he added.
The 305 enforcement steps taken by DGCA last year included actions of flight crew and air traffic controllers (ATCOs) leading to serious incidents and accidents, improper aircraft maintenance and inadequate airport facilities. Action taken against pilots, cabin crew, ATCOs and aircraft maintenance engineers for failing to clear breath analyser tests also come under this category. Many FTOs faced action for violating safety standards.
The DGCA had carried out the highest ever number of surveillance actions in a calendar year in 2022, at 4,378 checks of which 3,013 were planned and 1,365 unplanned. These include safety audits, ramp inspections, spot checks and night surveillance conducted till Thursday (Dec 22) on airlines, airport operators, approved organisations, flying training schools to check whether they are following safety standards.
Indian aviation safety oversight mechanism is now among the top 50 countries of the world at the 48th spot — a quantum leap from its 102nd rank four years ago. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in November 2022 audited DGCA to check its effective implementation (EI) of critical safety elements. The improved safety ranking will make it easier for Indian carriers to expand their wings abroad. Tata Group’s Air India and IndiGo have massive expansion plans. Airlines of countries with dubious aviation safety records find their aircraft being subjected to more surprise checks at airports abroad.
