E-Paper
DGCA orders changes after increased engineering-related occurrences in airlines
There have been multiple technical malfunction incidents in Indian carriers' planes during the last one month.
After frequent reports of engineering-related occurrences in several airlines, the aviation regulator DGCA has conducted several spot checks and advised that all aircraft at base and transit stations shall be released by certifying staff holding a licence with appropriate authorisation by their organisation.
The DGCA demanded compliance by July 28. There have been multiple technical malfunction incidents in Indian carriers' planes during the last one month.
The DGCA spot checks showed improper identification of the cause of the defect, increased trend of MEL (minimum equipment list) releases, non-availability of required certifying staff at short intervals for multiple scheduled arrivals/departures.
An MEL is a list of equipment certified by the DGCA. A certified AME is allowed to clear an aircraft if these listed equipment are not available before flying.
The DGCA said it has decided that all the aircraft at base airports and transit will be released by certifying staff holding AME of only B1/ B2 license with appropriate authorisation by their organisation/ airline.
On Monday, aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia held one-on-one meetings with chiefs of Indian carriers, asking them to ramp up safety oversight, sources said.
Scindia told each airline to take all necessary steps that are needed to ramp up safety oversight, the sources said.
Scindia had on Sunday held a meeting on safety issues with senior officials of his ministry and regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
During the Sunday meeting, the minister had taken a detailed report from officials about the incidents over the last one month and told them that there should be no compromise over passengers' safety.
On Sunday, IndiGo's Sharjah-Hyderabad flight was diverted to Karachi as a precautionary measure after pilots observed a defect in one of the engines.
On Saturday night, the Calicut-Dubai flight of the Air India Express was diverted to Muscat after a burning smell was observed in the cabin mid-air.
A day earlier an alive bird was found in the cockpit of the Air India Express Bahrain-Kochi flight.
SpiceJet is under a regulatory scanner right now. On July 6, the DGCA issued a show-cause notice to SpiceJet following at least eight incidents of technical malfunction in its aircraft since June 19.
The DGCA is currently investigating all these incidents.
