Latest news with #NationalCapacityAlignmentPlan
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Aviation safety: Parliament panel flags DGCA staff shortage; half of all posts vacant, push for autonomy
A Parliamentary panel has raised alarm over the 'existential threat' posed by severe staffing shortages at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and pressed for granting the regulator both financial and administrative autonomy through a time-bound plan. The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, chaired by JD(U) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, tabled its report on 'Overall Review of Safety in the Civil Aviation Sector' on Wednesday, PTI reported. It cautioned that India's rapid aircraft induction, unmatched by airport infrastructure expansion, is pushing facilities to the brink, eroding service standards and stretching safety margins. The panel recommended a comprehensive National Capacity Alignment Plan to synchronise fleet additions with airport growth. 'This deficit is not a mere administrative statistic; it is a critical vulnerability that exists at the very heart of India's safety oversight system, occurring precisely at a time when the sector's unprecedented growth demands more, not less, regulatory vigilance and capacity,' the report observed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Resmed AirSense 11 with flat 20% off ResMed Buy Now Undo Nearly 50 per cent of DGCA's 1,063 sanctioned posts remain vacant, with only 553 currently filled. The committee noted that 'an ineffective recruitment model' has left critical technical positions unfilled despite repeated warnings by earlier expert panels. It also flagged the civil aviation ministry's current stance that direct recruitment by DGCA is 'not under consideration'. The report further stated that unresolved safety deficiencies are piling up, exposing weaknesses in the regulator's post-surveillance rectification process. 'This is a response to the significant and growing backlog of unresolved safety findings, which indicates a critical weakness in the post-surveillance rectification process that undermines the entire oversight programme,' the panel said, urging strict deadlines for closing gaps and stronger enforcement including financial penalties. Concerns were also raised about audit quality due to the lack of qualified staff and the tendency of airlines to 'prioritise profiteering over immediate maintenance'. The panel has asked for mandatory root-cause analysis of every runway incursion and other recurrent high-risk events, warning that 'key safety targets… are consistently being exceeded'. Data on bird strikes and engine failures, it said, show the need for effective remedial measures. Citing recent helicopter crashes, the committee proposed a uniform national regulatory framework for all state-operated services, backed by mandatory terrain-specific pilot training. It said state-level oversight has created 'unacceptable safety gaps' in high-risk environments and called for stronger central intervention. The panel also emphasised creating a 'just culture' with legal whistleblower protection to encourage open error reporting. 'While DGCA has a confidential and non-punitive voluntary safety reporting system, there is a need for clearer protections,' the report added. Notably, the report made no mention of the June 12 Air India plane crash that claimed 260 lives. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
DGCA staffing crisis a threat to aviation safety system: Parl panel
A Parliamentary panel on Wednesday suggested a time-bound plan to grant administrative as well as financial autonomy to DGCA and flagged that the staffing crisis at the regulator is an "existential threat to the integrity of India's aviation safety system". Besides, the committee said the current imbalance, where aircraft induction is outpacing airport growth, is putting unsustainable pressure on existing facilities, degrading service quality, and dangerously straining safety margins, as it pitched for developing a comprehensive National Capacity Alignment Plan to synchronise airport infrastructure development with airline fleet induction schedules. The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture -- headed by Rajya Sabha member and JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha -- submitted its report on the 'Overall Review of Safety in the Civil Aviation Sector' on Wednesday. One of the recommendations is to establish a time-bound mechanism for the closure of all safety deficiencies, with priority for serious Level I matters and implementing stronger enforcement actions, including financial penalties for non-compliance. "This is a response to the significant and growing backlog of unresolved safety findings, which indicates a critical weakness in the post-surveillance rectification process that undermines the entire oversight programme. Concerns also exist about audit quality due to a lack of qualified DGCA staff and airlines prioritising profiteering over immediate maintenance," the report said. The report has not mentioned the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people on June 12. Calling for a time-bound plan to grant the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) full administrative and financial autonomy, the committee said it is necessary to address critical technical staff shortages caused by "an ineffective recruitment model", a problem highlighted by past expert committees but never resolved. Nearly 50 per cent of the 1,063 sanctioned posts at the regulator are vacant. Of the total posts, only 553 are filled. "This deficit is not a mere administrative statistic; it is a critical vulnerability that exists at the very heart of India's safety oversight system, occurring precisely at a time when the sector's unprecedented growth demands more, not less, regulatory vigilance and capacity," the panel said, adding that the staffing crisis is not merely an administrative problem but an existential threat to the integrity of India's aviation safety system. According to the report, the civil aviation ministry's current stance is that direct recruitment by DGCA is not under consideration. Among the raft of suggestions, the panel also proposed mandating a detailed root-cause analysis for every runway incursion and other recurring high-risk events, and establishing focused remedial programs for these areas. "This is necessary because key safety targets for events like runway incursions are consistently being exceeded, indicating that the current incident review process is failing to translate lessons learned into effective operational changes. "Specific data on bird strikes and engine failures underscores the need for effective remedial measures despite existing systematic oversight," it said in the report. Against the backdrop of recent helicopter crashes, the panel has recommended a uniform national regulatory framework for all state-operated helicopter services and mandatory, terrain-specific pilot training. "This is prompted by a series of accidents in high-risk environments managed by state-level agencies with limited central oversight, revealing a regulatory ambiguity that creates unacceptable safety gaps. While the ministry defines central and state roles and DGCA has issued a circular for pilgrimage operations, the committee highlights the need for more proactive and uniform central oversight," it noted. Among other recommendations, the committee has emphasised the need for having a 'just culture' and a legally-backed whistleblower protection framework. This is to counter a punitive culture that deters the open reporting of errors, which is essential for proactive safety management. While DGCA has a confidential and non-punitive voluntary safety reporting system, there is a need for clearer protections, it added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
DGCA staffing crisis 'existential threat' for aviation safety system; watchdog needs autonomy: Parl panel
A Parliamentary panel on Wednesday suggested a time-bound plan to grant administrative as well as financial autonomy to DGCA and flagged that the staffing crisis at the regulator is an "existential threat to the integrity of India's aviation safety system ". Besides, the committee said the current imbalance, where aircraft induction is outpacing airport growth, is putting unsustainable pressure on existing facilities, degrading service quality, and dangerously straining safety margins, as it pitched for developing a comprehensive National Capacity Alignment Plan to synchronise airport infrastructure development with airline fleet induction schedules. The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture -- headed by Rajya Sabha member and JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha -- submitted its report on the 'Overall Review of Safety in the Civil Aviation Sector' on Wednesday. One of the recommendations is to establish a time-bound mechanism for the closure of all safety deficiencies, with priority for serious Level I matters and implementing stronger enforcement actions, including financial penalties for non-compliance. "This is a response to the significant and growing backlog of unresolved safety findings, which indicates a critical weakness in the post-surveillance rectification process that undermines the entire oversight programme. Concerns also exist about audit quality due to a lack of qualified DGCA staff and airlines prioritising profiteering over immediate maintenance," the report said. Live Events The report has not mentioned the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people on June 12. Calling for a time-bound plan to grant the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) full administrative and financial autonomy, the committee said it is necessary to address critical technical staff shortages caused by "an ineffective recruitment model", a problem highlighted by past expert committees but never resolved. Nearly 50 per cent of the 1,063 sanctioned posts at the regulator are vacant. Of the total posts, only 553 are filled. "This deficit is not a mere administrative statistic; it is a critical vulnerability that exists at the very heart of India's safety oversight system, occurring precisely at a time when the sector's unprecedented growth demands more, not less, regulatory vigilance and capacity," the panel said, adding that the staffing crisis is not merely an administrative problem but an existential threat to the integrity of India's aviation safety system. According to the report, the civil aviation ministry's current stance is that direct recruitment by DGCA is not under consideration. Among the raft of suggestions, the panel also proposed mandating a detailed root-cause analysis for every runway incursion and other recurring high-risk events, and establishing focused remedial programs for these areas. "This is necessary because key safety targets for events like runway incursions are consistently being exceeded, indicating that the current incident review process is failing to translate lessons learned into effective operational changes. "Specific data on bird strikes and engine failures underscores the need for effective remedial measures despite existing systematic oversight," it said in the report. Against the backdrop of recent helicopter crashes, the panel has recommended a uniform national regulatory framework for all state-operated helicopter services and mandatory, terrain-specific pilot training. "This is prompted by a series of accidents in high-risk environments managed by state-level agencies with limited central oversight, revealing a regulatory ambiguity that creates unacceptable safety gaps. While the ministry defines central and state roles and DGCA has issued a circular for pilgrimage operations, the committee highlights the need for more proactive and uniform central oversight," it noted. Among other recommendations, the committee has emphasised the need for having a 'just culture' and a legally-backed whistleblower protection framework. This is to counter a punitive culture that deters the open reporting of errors, which is essential for proactive safety management. While DGCA has a confidential and non-punitive voluntary safety reporting system, there is a need for clearer protections, it added.
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
'Air Safety At Risk': Parliamentary Panel Flags Urgent Need For Overhaul Of Civil Aviation Reforms
Last Updated: A central finding of the report was the weakness of the DGCA, which the panel said suffers from acute staff shortages and ineffective recruitment mechanisms. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has issued a strong call for sweeping reforms in India's civil aviation sector, warning that systemic shortcomings pose growing risks to passenger safety and the future of the industry. The panel, chaired by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha, tabled its 380th report on overall reforms in civil aviation in Parliament on Tuesday after adopting it on August 19. The committee's review was prompted by heightened concern among lawmakers following the recent Ahmedabad air crash, in which an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after take-off, claiming the lives of 241 passengers. The incident, which shook public confidence, added urgency to the panel's deliberations. Strengthening the Regulator A central finding of the report was the weakness of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which the panel said suffers from acute staff shortages and ineffective recruitment mechanisms. It recommended granting the DGCA both financial and administrative autonomy to strengthen oversight. Without such empowerment, the committee warned, the regulator would continue to lag behind global safety benchmarks. The panel also voiced concern over the mounting workload of air traffic controllers (ATCs), who manage increasingly congested skies under high stress. It recommended the introduction of a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS), strict enforcement of duty-hour limits, and a long-term staffing plan to reduce fatigue-related risks. Highlighting unresolved safety deficiencies, the committee flagged the 'serious risk" posed by the growing backlog of pending issues and called for time-bound enforcement and stricter penalties. It also pressed for a comprehensive safety review of helicopter operations, including mandatory terrain-specific pilot training, a uniform regulatory framework, and closer monitoring of state-operated helicopters flying in high-risk areas. The panel underscored the need for systematic tracking of runway incidents such as incursions and overruns, which have been recurring in Indian airports. A dedicated mechanism to investigate and prevent such risks was proposed. A Cultural Shift in Safety One of the most notable recommendations was the adoption of 'Just Culture" principles in safety governance. This approach encourages open reporting of errors without punitive action, protects whistleblowers, and helps create a culture of transparency. The panel stressed that such a shift is essential if India is to prevent accidents and move towards a proactive safety regime. Infrastructure and Capacity On infrastructure, the report urged the creation of a National Capacity Alignment Plan to ensure that airport expansion keeps pace with the rapid induction of new aircraft. The panel cautioned that the imbalance between growing fleets and inadequate infrastructure was putting unsustainable pressure on existing airports. It also called for modernisation of air traffic management systems using artificial intelligence, greater professional representation in the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and a faster overhaul of airport technologies. Building Human Capital Manpower shortages were flagged as another bottleneck. The panel recommended scaling up pilot training infrastructure, adding more Flying Training Organisations (FTOs), inducting additional training aircraft, and introducing a ranking system for FTOs to improve quality standards. Alongside, it urged stricter enforcement of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) and initiatives to address the mental health and fatigue of both pilots and ATCs. Boosting Domestic MRO Given India's heavy reliance on foreign facilities for aircraft maintenance, the report pressed for expansion of the domestic Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) ecosystem. Tax reforms and targeted policy support were recommended to make India a competitive hub for MRO services, thereby reducing costs and dependence on overseas facilities. The day-long meeting preceding the adoption of the report brought together key stakeholders, including Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Sinha, senior officials from the DGCA, the Airports Authority of India, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, along with senior executives from airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. Representatives from helicopter operators also made detailed submissions. top videos View all Several parliamentarians participated in the deliberations, including BJP MPs Kesridevsinh Jhala, S Phangnon Konyak, Surendra Singh Nagar, Anil Firojiya, Tapir Gao, Rajeev Pratap Reddy, Anurag Sharma, and Rahul Kaswan; Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi, Neeraj Dangi, and KC Venugopal; John Brittas of the CPI(M); Mian Altaf Ahmad of the National Conference; Kumari Shailaja; June Maliah of the TMC; and Uday Srinivas of the Jana Sena Party. The panel cautioned that unless systemic reforms are urgently undertaken, India's aviation sector risks facing compromised safety, overstretched infrastructure, and weakened governance. tags : Ahmedabad Plane Crash Air Safety civil aviation view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 20, 2025, 14:59 IST News india 'Air Safety At Risk': Parliamentary Panel Flags Urgent Need For Overhaul Of Civil Aviation Reforms Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
