DELHI- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has conditionally reinstated the Air India (AI) approved training organization (ATO) license for a 30-day period. This decision permits the airline to resume the renewal of pilots’ licenses and certifications using its simulators.
Previously, the DGCA had suspended Air India’s ATO license, effectively halting operations at both of its simulators, including the Boeing simulator in Mumbai and the Airbus simulator in Hyderabad, reported BS.
Air India Simulator License Reactivated
This suspension was enacted following the discovery of deficiencies during a surprise inspection. Consequently, the certification and license renewal processes for Air India’s pilots had been halted due to the DGCA’s actions.
During the surprise inspection, the regulatory body identified several issues with the simulators.
These included an expired quality manual for the simulators, the absence of a designated quality control officer responsible for simulator oversight, and the lack of established standard operating procedures (SOPs) for conducting preventive maintenance checks on the simulators, as pointed out by the DGCA.
In response to these findings, Air India promptly submitted the required documentation to rectify the situation. This submission included the development of new SOPs for preventive maintenance checks and the creation of a quality manual for the simulators, all of which were provided to the DGCA.
The DGCA has granted conditional approval for a 30-day period following the correction of these deficiencies. During this timeframe, an internal audit will be carried out, and the audit findings will be shared with the DGCA, as stated by an official from the regulatory authority.
An Air India representative informed Business Standard that the airline has already initiated its internal audit of both simulators in compliance with the DGCA’s directives.
Additionally, the airline’s pilots have commenced their certification and license renewal training using these simulators, as confirmed by the official.
Hyderabad and Mumbai Sims
Air India’s simulator located in Hyderabad is utilized by pilots who operate the Airbus fleet, predominantly comprising narrow-body A320 aircraft. These A320 planes are primarily deployed for short-haul flights within the airline’s operations.
On the other hand, the simulator facility in Mumbai is employed by pilots who operate the Boeing fleet. This Boeing fleet mainly includes wide-body B777 and B787 aircraft, primarily used for long-haul international flights as part of the airline’s operations.
It is mandatory for all pilots to undergo license renewal every six months through simulator training. Additionally, they must complete certification courses on an annual basis.
These courses encompass instrument rating, ground training refresher, and aviation security, all of which require simulator-based training. Failing to fulfill these certification and license renewal requirements precludes a pilot from operating commercial flights.
As of August 1st, Air India’s fleet consisted of 74 Airbus planes and 53 Boeing planes, as reported by aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Photos By Harsh Tekriwal (@avgeekwithlens) • Instagram photos and videos
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News.
