NEW DELHI- To uphold aviation safety standards, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has levied an Rs 80 lakh fine on Air India (AI) for non-compliance with (FDTL) and (FMS) regulations.
As part of its safety measures, the regulatory body conducted a surprise audit of Air India in January to assess compliance with FDTL and FMS regulations. Air India has faced multiple fines from the regulator over the past 1.5 years due to various infractions.
DGCA Identifies Violations
An official reported that Air India was found lacking in providing sufficient weekly rest, adequate pre- and post-ultra-long range (ULR) flight rest, and appropriate layover rest for the flight crew.
These deficiencies are in violation of the Civil Aviation Requirements for Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). Furthermore, the audit revealed instances of exceeding duty periods, inaccurately recorded training records, and overlapping duties.
Following the audit, the regulator issued a show cause notice to AI on March 1, requesting their explanation for the audit findings. However, the response provided by the operator was deemed unsatisfactory.
Consequently, the regulator imposed a fine of Rs 80 lakh on the operator. The DGCA remains dedicated to upholding the highest safety standards in India’s civil aviation sector, and this enforcement action aligns with its commitment.
Similar Instance
In a statement, the regulator explained, “Pursuant to the receipt of a voluntary safety report from an airline employee alleging safety violations of flights operated by M/s Air India on certain long-range terrain-critical routes, DGCA conducted a comprehensive investigation into the alleged violations.”
The statement continued, “Since the investigation prima facie revealed non-compliance by the airline, a Show Cause Notice was issued to the Accountable Manager of Air India Limited. The response to the Show Cause Notice was duly examined with respect to the laid-down stipulations under the relevant statutory provisions and the performance limits stipulated in critical documentations laid down by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).”
“Since the said operations of the leased aircraft were not in line with regulatory/OEM performance limits, DGCA has initiated enforcement action and imposed a penalty of Rs. 1.10 crore on M/s Air India,” concluded the DGCA statement.
Air India objected to the Rs 1.1 crore fine imposed by the DGCA, the country’s aviation regulator, for safety violations.
The aviation watchdog imposed the fine due to Air India’s alleged breaches of rules concerning flights operated on specific long and riskier routes.
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