Latest news with #Mohol
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Action taken as AI emergency slide inspection overdue: MoS
The country's civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), initiated disciplinary action against Air India after it was found that the airline's aircraft emergency slide inspections were overdue, minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed Parliament in a written reply on Monday. Action taken as AI emergency slide inspection overdue: MoS Mohol said the issue came to light in an audit conducted by DGCA. Replying to DMK MP Tiruchi Siva on a question if the government was aware of the airline's aircraft being allowed to fly with overdue emergency slide inspections, weeks before the Air India 171 crash, Mohol stated, 'During the audit of M/s Air India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has found that inspection of emergency slide was overdue. 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.' He, however, did not give details of the audit. The AI 171 flight that was to operate from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, London crashed moments after take-off on June 12, after which the aviation regulator asked the airline to conduct a series of checks not only on the B787s, the make of the aircraft involved in the crash, but also on its other widebody aircraft. Mohol said DGCA ensures compliance by airlines with all safety and maintenance standards through the mechanism of conducting spot checks and night surveillance of airlines and their personnel. 'In case of a 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 well trained to perform the oversight and enforcement function,' his reply read.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
31 operational aircraft inspected after Air India crash: Minister of State for Civil Aviation
Following the crash of Air India flight AI-171 at Ahmedabad, 31 operational aircraft of the airline were inspected and there were minor findings observed in eight aircraft, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said. 'Out of total 33 aircraft, 31 operational aircraft have been inspected wherein minor findings were observed in 8 aircraft. These aircraft have been released for operation post rectification. The remaining 2 aircraft are under scheduled maintenance,' he said. Responding to a question raised by DMK MP Kanimozhi NVN Somu in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Mohol said, the eight aircraft were pressed into operations after rectification. Mr Mohol said, Director General, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) ordered an investigation after the air crash. Also, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered Air India to do additional checks on all 33 Boeing 787-8/9, he added. He noted that DGCA has a systematic safety oversight mechanism to check the compliance of Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements for all the aircraft and the airport operators. 'The safety oversight process includes regular and periodic audits, spot checks, night surveillance and ramp inspections across all operators, including continuous oversight of maintenance practices,' he said.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
30 deaths in five years from 12 helicopter accidents, Centre tells Rajya Sabha
NEW DELHI: A total of 30 fatalities have occurred in 12 helicopter accidents across India over the past five years, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday. In a written response to a query by Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking details of helicopter accidents and fatalities in the last five years and the remedial actions taken by the government, Mohol submitted specific state-wise data. He stated that one accident in Chhattisgarh led to two deaths, four mishaps in Maharashtra resulted in seven deaths, and seven accidents in Uttarakhand claimed 21 lives. On the remedial measures undertaken, the Minister said, 'The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has reiterated safety norms for helicopter operations in the country including Chardham Yatra, focussing on access control, improving parking arrangements, regulating strict adherence to SOPs. The DGCA has initiated additional surveillance and safety audits of helicopter operations for the Chardham Yatra.' In a separate written reply to YSRCP MP S Niranjan Reddy on the steps taken to regulate the surge in air ticket prices during festivals and emergencies, Mohol informed the House that the DGCA has also set up a Traffic Monitoring Unit (TMU) to monitor airfares on a monthly basis. He said, 'In order to enhance the transparency in airfare, DGCA has set up Tariff Monitoring Unit (TMU) that monitors airfares on selected 78 routes on a random basis to ensure that the airlines do not charge airfares outside the range declared by them, under the provision of sub-rule (2) of Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules 1937. This covers about 27% of the domestic traffic.' The Minister added that the government is playing the role of a facilitator by creating an enabling environment to support the growth of the sector.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
DGCA takes action against Air India for delayed emergency slide inspections before Ahmedabad crash
NEW DELHI: Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that the aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has allegedly taken enforcement action against Air India for significant delays in inspecting the emergency slides of some of its aircraft prior to the Ahmedabad plane crash. He submitted his written response to a question posed by DMK MP Tiruchi N Siva. The MP wanted to know about the action taken against Air India in connection with the violation of safety norms regarding emergency slides on its aircraft. He also sought to know whether any performance audit of DGCA's enforcement actions had been undertaken in the last five years. Mohol said, 'During the audit of Air India, the DGCA found that the inspection of the emergency slide was overdue. DGCA immediately grounded the aircraft till the required rectification was carried out. It has initiated enforcement action against Air India and the responsible personnel as per the Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual of DGCA.' The enforcement action consists of warning, suspension, cancellation, including imposition of financial penalty to the airlines/personnel, he added. An Air India source confirmed that action was taken against some of its aircraft due to the delay in carrying out inspection of emergency slides. Mohol further said, 'DGCA officials are well trained to perform the oversight and enforcement function.' The regulator ensures the compliance by airlines with all safety and maintenance standards through the mechanism of conducting surveillance, spot checks, night surveillance, etc., of the airlines and its personnel. Mohol also said that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) carried out the ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) audit of DGCA in 2022 and the regulator was given a score of 85.65 for effective implementation.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
DGCA took punitive action against Air India Express for not following airworthiness rules: Minister
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took punitive action against senior officials of Air India Express for failing to comply with an airworthiness directive, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The DGCA acted against the Air India Express' Continuing Maintenance Manager, Quality Manager, and Accountable Manager under its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.(File/Reuters) In a written reply, Mohol said, "During a surveillance inspection of Air India Express by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), it was found that Air India Express had not complied with the EASA Airworthiness Directive on the engines installed on the Airbus A320 aircraft." The DGCA acted against the airline's Continuing Maintenance Manager, Quality Manager, and Accountable Manager under its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual. The Quality Manager's approval was cancelled. The Continuing Maintenance Manager was issued a warning letter and fined ₹1.5 lakh. The Accountable Manager was fined ₹30 lakh. The DGCA conducts both planned and surprise inspections of airlines and maintenance organisations. These include routine and periodic audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections. The regulator also publishes an Annual Surveillance Plan on its website every year, which outlines its audit and inspection schedule as per its Regulatory Audit Procedure Manual. Mohol added that it is the responsibility of each airline to follow Service Bulletins and Airworthiness Directives issued by the aircraft's country of design or manufacture to ensure the aircraft remains safe and airworthy.(ANI)
