India’s aviation regulator has tightened the rules for charter flight operators after a rise in recent incidents.
On February 24, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced strict new safety measures for non-scheduled operators — commonly known as charter flight companies.
The move follows a high-level review of accident data from the past decade.
The findings were clear: many accidents happened due to poor planning, gaps in training, and failure to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Now, the regulator says it will follow a zero-tolerance policy on safety violations.
What Triggered the Crackdown?
According to the DGCA, several charter flight accidents were not caused by technical failure alone.
Instead, the main reasons included:
Not following SOPs
Inadequate flight planning
Training deficiencies
The regulator has made it clear that safety must always come first — even over business pressures, VIP commitments, or commercial deadlines.
Pilots will now have full authority to delay, divert, or cancel flights for safety reasons without fear of punishment from their employers.
New Rules for Charter Operators
The DGCA has introduced multiple mandatory steps.
Charter operators must now publish safety-related information on their websites.
This includes:
Aircraft age
Maintenance history
Pilot experience
In addition, the DGCA will introduce a public safety ranking system.
This will allow customers to compare operators before booking a charter flight.
The regulator is also conducting a special safety audit in two phases.
Phase 1 is expected to be completed by early March 2026, followed by Phase 2 covering remaining operators.
A safety workshop will be held after the audits are completed.
Stricter Monitoring and Heavy Penalties
The DGCA plans to increase random inspections.
This includes checking cockpit voice recorders, fuel data, and technical logs to detect any unauthorized actions.
Senior management will also be held accountable.
The regulator has warned that safety lapses cannot simply be blamed on pilots.
Penalties will be strict:
Pilots violating flight duty limits or attempting unsafe landings may face license suspension of up to five years.
Operators failing safety standards could face heavy fines or even license suspension.
The regulator also highlighted that many weather-related accidents happen due to poor judgment rather than unpredictable weather.
Operators must now ensure real-time weather updates and strict compliance with safety procedures.
Older aircraft and operators managing their own maintenance facilities will face closer scrutiny, especially if previous evaluations showed shortcomings.
The Bigger Message
The DGCA’s latest move sends a strong signal to the charter aviation industry: safety is non-negotiable.
With stricter audits, public safety ratings, and personal accountability for management, the regulator is aiming to rebuild trust and reduce aviation risks in the fast-growing charter sector.
