Air India Flight Crash Update: Following the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is preparing to make significant changes in its safety audits.
According to CNBC Awaaz’s Aseem Manchanda, DGCA will now carry out special audits in addition to the regular routine checks.
These audits will help the authority monitor safety standards more closely and more often. Separate teams will be assigned to inspect different departments to ensure better oversight.
New Rules to Cover All Aviation Services
The new audit process will follow international safety norms, including those set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
These audits will not be limited to just airlines. They will also include airports, training schools, ground staff, cargo services, and helicopter operations.
The goal is to improve safety, ensure proper working procedures, and check compliance with aviation regulations.
Lack of Coordination in Current System
Currently, different services have separate regulators. For example, in Uttarakhand, the state’s Civil Aviation Authority handles helicopters and related services.
Because of this, there is sometimes a lack of coordination between different agencies, and problems are not noticed in time.
To fix this issue, DGCA has now decided to carry out the safety audit for the entire country under a unified system. The audit process will be led by a Deputy Director General-level officer.
Audit Rules Will Apply to All Flights
These updated rules will be applicable to all types of flights — scheduled, non-scheduled, and cargo.
The audit will also cover aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations. Once the audit is done, any necessary improvements must be made within 15 days.
Air India to Reduce Fleet Size
In response to safety concerns, Air India will reduce its fleet of narrow-body aircraft by 5%. Earlier, the airline had already cut down its wide-body aircraft fleet by 15%.
Flights on several scheduled routes have also been reduced. As a result, both international and domestic airfares may see a rise in the coming days.
