Pilots told not to come under ‘VIP pressure’ during election season, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The DGCA issued a new order on Friday revising norms for flying dignitaries and election operations.
• The order was issued under Section 4 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024.
• Charter companies must brief VIP passengers that operational decisions must remain free from "external pressure".
• The norms lay down eligibility criteria for co-pilots: a minimum of 500 hours of total flying experience and 100 hours on type for aircraft.

Detailed Insights:

• The new order replaces two advisory circulars on VIP flying issued in 2014 and 2021.
• Pilots frequently report implicit pressure to fly despite constraints like weather, visibility and sunset operations.
• The order aims to ensure that operational decisions are based on safety considerations and free from external influence.
• The experience requirements for helicopter Pilot-in-Command remain unchanged by the new order.

Key Concepts Involved:

• DGCA: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is the regulatory body for civil aviation in India.
• VIP: Very Important Person, typically a high-ranking government official or dignitary.
• Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024: The legal framework governing aviation operations in India.