DGCA takes action against Air India over overdue emergency slide inspection
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India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has initiated enforcement action against Air India after it found that the inspection of an emergency slide on one of its aircraft was overdue. As per a PTI report, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed the Rajya Sabha of the development on Monday."DGCA immediately grounded the aircraft till the required rectification was carried out. DGCA has initiated enforcement action against Air India and the responsible personnel as per Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual of DGCA," the minister said in a written reply.The statement was in response to a query by DMK member Tiruchi Siva, who had asked whether the government was aware that Air India aircraft were allowed to operate with overdue emergency slide inspections in the weeks preceding the crash of flight AI 171 in June. He also asked whether accountability had been fixed on the regulator for any oversight failure.Specific details such as the date of the audit or when enforcement action was initiated were not shared.DGCA monitoring and compliance measuresMohol said the DGCA monitors compliance with safety and maintenance standards through surveillance, spot checks and night checks of airlines and their personnel."In case of violation, DGCA takes enforcement action in accordance with procedures prescribed in Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual. The enforcement action consists of warning, suspension, cancellation including imposition of financial penalty to the airlines/ personnel. DGCA officials are trained to perform the oversight and enforcement function," he said.In recent months, Air India has been under scrutiny by the DGCA for various compliance-related issues.On 12 June, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft operated by Air India crashed into a building shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on flight AI 171 to London Gatwick. The incident resulted in 260 deaths.
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