Responding to a string of fatal aviation incidents, India’s aviation watchdog, DGCA, rolled out iron-fisted regulations Tuesday targeting non-scheduled flight operators. The backdrop: a devastating air ambulance downing in Chatra, Jharkhand, killing all seven aboard just a day prior, and a recent Learjet tragedy involving Maharashtra’s former deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s venture.
DGCA’s meeting with NSOP stakeholders introduced a groundbreaking mandatory disclosure regime. Charter firms must display on their sites key data like plane vintage, upkeep history, and crew expertise, ensuring passengers make informed choices.
Plans include a public safety ranking framework for operators, detailed on DGCA’s portal. Random CVR checks will surge, with rigorous validation of flight data, fuel logs, and maintenance books to root out irregularities.
The regulator is done scapegoating pilots alone. Senior executives and managers will be held personally liable for breaches. FDTL violators or reckless landers face up to five-year license bans. Fines, suspensions, and permit cancellations loom for safety defaulters.
Vintage planes and ownership-transitioning aircraft get extra watch. In-house MRO operators face audits; laggards must outsource to certified entities.
DGCA highlighted that many weather crashes result from flawed calls, not mere forecasts. Mandates now include real-time weather tech and SOP compliance. Training modules will drill weather strategies and high-stakes decisions.
With SOP audit Phase 1 wrapped in March’s start, Phase 2 targets the rest, fortifying non-scheduled ops against future perils.