DGCA issues stern warning to Air India over compliance gaps
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India's civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA ), has issued a warning to Air India 's Accountable Manager and CEO, Campbell Wilson , after finding the airline's explanation 'unsatisfactory' in a case involving flight duty time violations The violations relate to two long-haul flights operated in May this year. The DGCA found that both flights, between Bengaluru and London on 16 and 17 May, exceeded the 10-hour duty limit allowed under aviation safety rules Campbell Wilson, who serves as both CEO and Managing Director of the Tata Group-owned airline, is also the designated Accountable Manager responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance.According to a DGCA order dated 11 August, the regulator stated, '...Accountable Manager of M/s Air India Ltd. is hereby warned and advised to exercise utmost diligence and responsibility in ensuring strict compliance with the applicable Civil Aviation requirements.'The DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to Air India in June, asking the airline to explain within seven days why action should not be taken for breaching 'flight duty time limitations' (FDTL). However, after reviewing Air India's reply, the regulator concluded that it did not adequately address the lapses.Air India has said the issue arose due to a 'different interpretation' of a special permission granted to mitigate problems caused by a border-related airspace closure. The airline told PTI:'This was corrected immediately after the right interpretation was conveyed to us. Air India remains fully compliant with the rules.'Recent DGCA data shows that over the past year, Air India (including now-merged Vistara ) and Air India Express recorded 93 audit findings, including 19 level-1 violations, considered critical safety risks that require immediate corrective action.Overall, DGCA audits of eight domestic airlines over the same period uncovered 263 safety lapses, some of which needed urgent fixes.Inputs from PTI
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