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Time of India
an hour ago
- Business
- Time of India
DGCA took punitive action against AI Express for non-compliance with airworthiness directive: Mohol
New Delhi, The Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ) initiated punitive action against certain officials of Air India Express for the airline failing to comply with an airworthiness directive regarding engines installed on Airbus A320 aircraft, the civil aviation ministry said on Thursday. During a surveillance inspection of Air India Express by DGCA, it was found that the airline had not complied with the EASA ( European Union Aviation Safety Agency ) Airworthiness Directive on the engines installed on the Airbus A320 aircraft. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence Data Science Public Policy Healthcare Data Analytics Project Management Data Science others Degree Finance Digital Marketing Design Thinking Operations Management Others Technology PGDM MCA MBA healthcare Cybersecurity Management CXO Leadership Product Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details In a written reply, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said DGCA initiated punitive action against the airline's responsible personnel -- Continuing Maintenance Manager, Quality Manager and Accountable Manager -- as per the Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sale is Live now Luxury Watches Shop Now Undo "The approval granted to Quality Manager was cancelled, Continuing Maintenance Manager was given warning letter along with Rs 1.5 lacs financial penalty. A financial penalty of Rs 30 lacs was imposed on Accountable Manager," he told the Lok Sabha. However, details about when the non-compliance happened and when the punitive action was taken were not disclosed. Live Events The minister was responding to a query on whether the government acknowledges the fact that Air India Express failed to change engine parts of Airbus A320 aircraft on time and whether a DGCA investigation reportedly revealed falsification of records. DGCA has a structured surveillance and audit framework in place, including regular and periodic audits, spot checks, night surveillance and ramp inspections across all operators and maintenance organisations. "It is the responsibility of the airline/operator to comply with the Service Bulletins/ Airworthiness Directives issued by the State of Design/ State of Manufacturer from time to time to keep the aircraft safe to fly and in a continuous state of airworthiness," Mohol said.
India Today
2 hours ago
- Business
- India Today
Aviation regulator warned Air India over crew fatigue, training lapses: Report
Air India has been warned by India's aviation regulator that it could face enforcement action for breaching safety standards related to crew fatigue management and training, government notices to the airline seen by Reuters airline self-reported the problems, which occurred this year and last year, to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last month, just days after one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners crashed in Ahmedabad city, killing 260 government notices, dated July 23, criticised Air India for repeated failures in safety compliance and follow many other warnings in the past. Potential regulatory action could include fines or ordering that executives be removed from their jobs. They cite a combined 29 violations, including pilots not being given mandatory rest, poor compliance with simulator training requirements, lack of training for a high-altitude airport and flying on international routes with insufficient cabin crew."Despite repeated warning and enforcement action of non-compliance in the past, systemic issues related to compliance monitoring, crew planning, and training governance remain unresolved," said one of the notices."The recurrence of such violations suggests a failure to establish and enforce effective control mechanisms," it India said in a statement that the notices related to voluntary disclosures made over the past year, and it will respond to the regulator."We remain committed to the safety of our crew and passengers," it DGCA did not respond to a Reuters request for AND WARNINGSAir India has come under intense scrutiny since the Ahmedabad crash, which was the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade.A preliminary report found that the fuel control switches were flipped almost simultaneously after takeoff and there was pilot confusion in the cockpit. One pilot asked the other why he cut off the fuel and the other responded that he hadn't done so, the report the EU's aviation agency said this month it will investigate Air India Express, the airline's budget service, after Reuters reported the carrier did not change the engine parts of an Airbus A320 in a timely watchdog also found in May that Air India flew three Airbus planes even though they were overdue for checks on emergency crash and the warning notices have increased challenges for Indian conglomerate Tata, which took over the airline from the government in 2022 with the aim of turning it into a world-class week's government notices were addressed to senior executives, including the airline's director of flight operations, Pankul Mathur, and its director of training, Amar of the notices said there had been "weekly rest violations" detected for two pilots in June 2024 and one in June 2025, though it did not say how many extra hours the pilots notice said that last year, two pilots took simulator training but did not start flying within the prescribed time limit, a lapse that requires them to undergo training April this year, a pilot flew from Kathmandu without the mandatory special simulator training required for the airport, the notice added. Kathmandu has mountainous terrain and a high-altitude table-top runway. Table-top runways have steep drops at one or both ends."This is substantially risky because Kathmandu is an airport which requires prior training ... in case of any emergency (pilots) will not have the time to peruse a manual," Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at India's Aircraft Accident Investigation warnings also included concerns that cabin safety teams has "repeatedly failed to adhere" to rules, as four international flights in April and May this year flew with fewer cabin crew than the 15 senior Indian government official with direct knowledge of the notices said the administration was concerned that "Air India is taking things for granted", adding "we have given them many warnings."Air India received nine warning notices in the past six months, the government told parliament this week. Last year, authorities warned or fined airlines in 23 instances for safety violations. Eleven instances involved the Air India group.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Business Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Business Times
Air India warned by regulator over 'systemic' lapses in fatigue management and training
[NEW DELHI] Air India has been warned by India's aviation regulator that it could face enforcement action for breaching safety standards related to crew fatigue management and training, government notices to the airline seen by Reuters showed. The airline self-reported the problems, which occurred this year and last year, to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last month, just days after one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners crashed in Ahmedabad city, killing 260 people. Four government notices, dated July 23, criticised Air India for repeated failures in safety compliance and follow many other warnings in the past. Potential regulatory action could include fines or ordering that executives be removed from their jobs. They cite a combined 29 violations, including pilots not being given mandatory rest, poor compliance with simulator training requirements, lack of training for a high-altitude airport and flying on international routes with insufficient cabin crew. 'Despite repeated warning and enforcement action of non-compliance in the past, systemic issues related to compliance monitoring, crew planning, and training governance remain unresolved,' said one of the notices. 'The recurrence of such violations suggests a failure to establish and enforce effective control mechanisms,' it said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Air India said in a statement that the notices related to voluntary disclosures made over the past year, and it will respond to the regulator. 'We remain committed to the safety of our crew and passengers,' it added. The DGCA did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Air India has come under intense scrutiny since the Ahmedabad crash, which was the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. A preliminary report found that the fuel control switches were flipped almost simultaneously after takeoff and there was pilot confusion in the cockpit. One pilot asked the other why he cut off the fuel and the other responded that he hadn't done so, the report said. Separately, the EU's aviation agency said this month it will investigate Air India Express, the airline's budget service, after Reuters reported the carrier did not change the engine parts of an Airbus A320 in a timely manner. India's watchdog also found in May that Air India flew three Airbus planes even though they were overdue for checks on emergency equipment. The crash and the warning notices have increased challenges for Indian conglomerate Tata, which took over the airline from the government in 2022 with the aim of turning it into a world-class airline. This week's government notices were addressed to senior executives, including the airline's director of flight operations, Pankul Mathur, and its director of training, Amar Bhatia. One of the notices said there had been 'weekly rest violations' detected for two pilots in June 2024 and one in June 2025, though it did not say how many extra hours the pilots flew. Another notice said that last year, two pilots took simulator training but did not start flying within the prescribed time limit, a lapse that requires them to undergo training again. In April this year, a pilot flew from Kathmandu without the mandatory special simulator training required for the airport, the notice added. Kathmandu has mountainous terrain and a high-altitude table-top runway. Table-top runways have steep drops at one or both ends. 'This is substantially risky because Kathmandu is an airport which requires prior training ... in case of any emergency (pilots) will not have the time to peruse a manual,' Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The warnings also included concerns that cabin safety teams has 'repeatedly failed to adhere' to rules, as four international flights in April and May this year flew with fewer cabin crew than the 15 required. One senior Indian government official with direct knowledge of the notices said the administration was concerned that 'Air India is taking things for granted', adding 'we have given them many warnings.' Air India received nine warning notices in the past six months, the government told parliament this week. Last year, authorities warned or fined airlines in 23 instances for safety violations. Eleven instances involved the Air India group. REUTERS
Japan Today
3 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Air India warned by regulator over 'systemic' lapses in fatigue management and training
FILE PHOTO: An Air India passenger plane flies near houses as it makes its landing approach to Heathrow Airport in west London, Britain, January 28, 2025. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo By Aditya Kalra By Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Air India has been warned by India's aviation regulator that it could face enforcement action for breaching safety standards related to crew fatigue management and training, government notices to the airline seen by Reuters showed. The airline self-reported the problems, which occurred this year and last year, to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last month, just days after one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners crashed in Ahmedabad city, killing 260 people. Four government notices, dated July 23, criticised Air India for repeated failures in safety compliance and follow many other warnings in the past. Potential regulatory action could include fines or ordering that executives be removed from their jobs. They cite a combined 29 violations, including pilots not being given mandatory rest, poor compliance with simulator training requirements, lack of training for a high-altitude airport and flying on international routes with insufficient cabin crew. "Despite repeated warning and enforcement action of non-compliance in the past, systemic issues related to compliance monitoring, crew planning, and training governance remain unresolved," said one of the notices. "The recurrence of such violations suggests a failure to establish and enforce effective control mechanisms," it said. Air India said in a statement that the notices related to voluntary disclosures made over the past year, and it will respond to the regulator. "We remain committed to the safety of our crew and passengers," it added. The DGCA did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. INVESTIGATIONS AND WARNINGS Air India has come under intense scrutiny since the Ahmedabad crash, which was the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. A preliminary report found that the fuel control switches were flipped almost simultaneously after takeoff and there was pilot confusion in the cockpit. One pilot asked the other why he cut off the fuel and the other responded that he hadn't done so, the report said. Separately, the EU's aviation agency said this month it will investigate Air India Express, the airline's budget service, after Reuters reported the carrier did not change the engine parts of an Airbus A320 in a timely manner. India's watchdog also found in May that Air India flew three Airbus planes even though they were overdue for checks on emergency equipment. The crash and the warning notices have increased challenges for Indian conglomerate Tata, which took over the airline from the government in 2022 with the aim of turning it into a world-class airline. This week's government notices were addressed to senior executives, including the airline's director of flight operations, Pankul Mathur, and its director of training, Amar Bhatia. One of the notices said there had been "weekly rest violations" detected for two pilots in June 2024 and one in June 2025, though it did not say how many extra hours the pilots flew. Another notice said that last year, two pilots took simulator training but did not start flying within the prescribed time limit, a lapse that requires them to undergo training again. In April this year, a pilot flew from Kathmandu without the mandatory special simulator training required for the airport, the notice added. Kathmandu has mountainous terrain and a high-altitude table-top runway. Table-top runways have steep drops at one or both ends. "This is substantially risky because Kathmandu is an airport which requires prior training ... in case of any emergency (pilots) will not have the time to peruse a manual," Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The warnings also included concerns that cabin safety teams has "repeatedly failed to adhere" to rules, as four international flights in April and May this year flew with fewer cabin crew than the 15 required. One senior Indian government official with direct knowledge of the notices said the administration was concerned that "Air India is taking things for granted", adding "we have given them many warnings." Air India received nine warning notices in the past six months, the government told parliament this week. Last year, authorities warned or fined airlines in 23 instances for safety violations. Eleven instances involved the Air India group. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) © (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025.
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Sukhu writes to Union minister Naidu, seeks central aid for expansion of Kangra airport
With the process of expansion of Kangra airport underway, Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has written to Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu requesting to recommend the expansion project for 'Special Central Assistance'. With the process of expansion of Kangra airport underway, Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has written to Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu requesting to recommend the expansion project for 'Special Central Assistance'. (fILE PHOTO) The letter follows CM Sukhu's recent meeting with the Union minister on July 14 in New Delhi. For the proposed expansion of the Kangra airport at Gaggal in Himachal's Kangra district, the cost of the land acquisition is pegged at approximately ₹3,500 crore. The state government has acquired around 150 hectares for the expansion project. As the land acquisition process has already started, awards for more than ₹1,900 crore are ready and ₹410 crore have been disbursed so far. 'The statutory stipulated period of one year is going to end in August, 2025. The Ministry of Civil Aviation may kindly recommend this project to the Ministry of Finance and the PMO for the Special Central Assistance as agreed during the meeting,' states CM Sukhu's letter to the aviation minister. The expansion project, which is underway, aims to increase the runway length of Kangra airport from the current 1,376 metres to 3,010 metres. This extension is crucial for accommodating larger aircraft, such as the Airbus A320, which would enhance connectivity between the Kangra valley and other parts of the country. Currently, only eight flights (16 movements) operate at Kangra Airport each day, connecting to Shimla, Delhi, and Chandigarh. With the proposed expansion, the airport could accommodate more flights, connect to additional destinations, and even open up the possibility of initiating international services. Sukhu also wrote that the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report of Kangra Airport prepared by M/s WAPCOS Ltd. should also be reviewed for arriving at a realistic assessment of cost by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) as it was on a higher side. 'Kangra Airport currently operates under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), requiring a minimum visibility of 5 km for flight operations, it was agreed that AAI will make provision for introduction of Special VFR operations so as to reduce the minimum visibility criteria from existing 5 km to 2.5 km to ensure operation of flights during reduced visibility conditions,' the letter states. During the meeting on July 14, Sukhu has also urged the Union minister to operate Delhi-Shimla-Dharamshala and Dharamshala-Shimla-Delhi flights on a daily basis, highlighting that at present, these flights were operational only three days a week, causing inconvenience to the tourists. He also requested the commencement of night landing facilities at Kangra airport. Sukhu has also asked for deployment of Himachal Pradesh State Police instead of CISF for airport security at Kullu and Shimla airports on the analogy of Kangra airport. He also urged for extending watch hours for the flight's operations at Shimla airport from 1 pm to 4 pm providing a larger window for the operation of flights.
