Safe Skies, Smoother Rides: DGCA Clears Air India’s 787s, Pushes for Sharper Operations

India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has cleared Air India's Boeing 787 fleet and maintenance procedures as satisfactory with regard to existing safety standards following a stringent surveillance following last week's tragic air crash. The DGCA, however, directed new instructions to the airline to boost operational robustness, improve internal coordination, and maintain adequate spare parts to minimize passenger delays en route as the investigation continues and flight disruptions increase.

 

Major Developments

 

Boeing 787s Pass Safety Tests: Recent India DGCA surveillance identified no significant safety concerns with Air India Boeing 787s or maintenance systems associated with them, which confirms compliance with regulations.

 

Crash Triggers Broad Review: The deadly crash of Air India flight AI171 at Ahmedabad, which claimed 271 lives, prompted a broad review of pilot training, maintenance, and operating procedures at the airline and low-fare subsidiary, Air India Express.

 

Emergency DGCA Meeting: Air India and Air India Express top brass were called for an emergency meeting with the DGCA for reviewing operational resilience in the wake of increasing flight traffic and recent maintenance issues.

 

Increased Maintenance Checks: The DGCA has ordered additional, more rigorous technical checks on all the Boeing 787 planes of Air India, resulting in cancellation of at least nine overseas flights and extensive schedule disruptions.

 

Improvement Advisories: Air India has been asked to improve coordination among engineering, operations, and ground handling units and to keep spare parts to avoid passenger delays.

 

Nationwide Safety Checks: All flying schools have been directed to reconfirm adherence to training and safety procedures, with the DGCA issuing a threat of increased audits within the next few weeks.

 

Ongoing Crash Inquiry: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the crash, and a high-level committee has been formed to submit a proper report within three months. Recovery and examination of the aircraft's black box is underway.

 

Highlights

 

Source: Reuters, The Indian Express, Times of India, Economic Times, The Hindu Business Line.