DGCA Highlights Areas for Improvement at Major Airports

Image Source: Hindustan Times

A recent audit by India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, has found several safety problems at some of the country’s busiest airports, including Delhi and Mumbai. The review comes after the recent Air India crash and has led to urgent warnings for airlines and airport operators to fix these issues within a week.

Here are the main points:

Aircraft Repairs Not Up to Mark: Inspectors found that some planes had the same technical problems coming up again and again. Maintenance teams weren’t always present when repairs were done, and sometimes the proper paperwork wasn’t filled out.
Lax Maintenance Practices: Basic safety steps were skipped during routine checks. For example, important parts like thrust reversers and flap slat levers were left unsecured. Also, some technical issues flagged by aircraft systems never made it into official records.
Runway and Lighting Problems: Runway markings were faded in several places, and some safety data hadn’t been updated in years. Lights meant to help pilots navigate were set up incorrectly, which could make landings riskier, especially at night or in bad weather.
Ground Equipment in Poor Shape: Things like baggage carts and belt loaders were found to be broken or not safe to use. Some airport vehicles didn’t have speed limiters, so they were pulled from service right away.
Pilot Training Concerns: At least one flight simulator used for pilot training was running old software, which didn’t match the planes pilots actually fly.
Immediate Flight Risks: In one case, a domestic flight was delayed because its tyres were dangerously worn. The plane only took off after urgent repairs.

The DGCA has told airports and airlines to fix these issues within seven days. They’ve also started similar checks at other major airports. The regulator says it won’t tolerate any lapses in safety and will take strict action if problems aren’t fixed quickly.

Source: Times of India, Gulf News, Economic Times, Indian Express, India Today