Amid spurt in small aircraft accidents, DGCA cracks whip, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• DGCA announced measures to enforce a "zero-tolerance policy" on flight safety for non-scheduled operators (NSOPs).
• The announcement follows a meeting after a recent air ambulance crash in Jharkhand that killed seven and another crash in Baramati.
• New measures include public disclosure requirements, safety ranking system, audits of flight data, and scrutiny of maintenance records.
• Pilots' decisions to divert, delay, or cancel flights for safety reasons must be respected, irrespective of commercial consequences.

Detailed Insights:

• NSOPs provide on-demand air transport like charter flights and air ambulances, and their flight safety has been a concern.
• The DGCA's review of accident data identified non-adherence to SOPs, inadequate flight planning, and training deficiencies as primary causes.
• NSOPs must disclose safety information on their websites, including aircraft age, maintenance history, and pilot experience.
• The DGCA will increase audits of cockpit voice recorders and cross-verify flight data to detect data falsification.
• Accountable managers will be held responsible for non-compliances, and pilots violating flight duty time limits may face license suspensions.
• Operators failing to meet compliance standards will be penalized, and their licenses/permits may be suspended.

Key Concepts Involved:

• DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation): The regulatory body for civil aviation in India, responsible for safety and standards.
• NSOPs (Non-Scheduled Operators): Air transport service providers offering on-demand services like charter flights and air ambulances.
• SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures): Established procedures to ensure consistency and safety in aviation operations.