The Indian aviation trade has seen vital rule adjustments this previous 12 months, together with the introduction of random alcohol and drug testing. And adjustments will likely be introduced up a notch, because the Civil Aviation Ministry has introduced it’ll create a major variety of posts directed on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to reinforce its security oversight perform additional.
Just a few too many incidents
The Civil Aviation Ministry’s sudden curiosity in enhancing the DGCA comes because the Indian aviation trade has seen one too many incidents this 12 months alone. Still, not sufficient proactive or reinforcing actions have been taken to deal with these points as airways proceed getting away with security non-compliance, which has prompted the concern of serving Member of Parliament, Priyanka Chaturvedi.
Chaturvedi criticized the DGCA for being too smooth and emphasised that the Civil Aviation Ministry ought to play its half in working with the aviation regulator to uphold and enhance security requirements. She additionally added that whereas passengers can select which airline they want to fly with based mostly on security information and status, airline crew members aren’t as lucky as a result of their employment dependency.
Due to their employment dependency and the way aggressive the aviation trade is, airline crew members cannot afford the luxurious of selecting their airline employer. Their lives are nonetheless considerably in danger if the DGCA doesn’t toughen up. Chaturvedi additionally highlighted a number of latest examples, comparable to an incident on October 14th when smoke crammed the cabin of a SpiceJet plane on a Goa-Hyderabad flight.
Another instance of a smoke-filled cabin concerned one other SpiceJet plane on October twelfth. It made an emergency touchdown after smoke began getting into the cabin and triggered panic and discomfort amongst passengers and crew. From Chaturvedi’s perspective, such incidents might have been simply averted if extra due diligence had been finished on the DGCA’s half in conducting extra check-ins with the airways.
Strengthening the DGCA
And in response to Chaturvedi, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has burdened that inside this 12 months alone, the DGCA has already accomplished roughly 202 surveillance inspections however acknowledges that the numbers might be larger and can work in direction of enhancing the statistics. Scindia additionally identified that the DGCA has carried out roughly 59 spot checks this 12 months, totally on SpiceJet plane.
But given the latest incidents which have been taking place, Scindia admits that spot checks must be finished extra often and randomly and assures that he may even work with the DGCA on taking all mandatory, acceptable motion for fast rectification. And ought to airways proceed with non-compliance with these proactive measures, the DGCA will be sure that fast enforcement motion is taken.
While not acknowledging that the DGCA is simply too smooth, the Civil Aviation Minister as an alternative stresses that there are nonetheless a number of areas for enchancment, and by working collectively, the DGCA will get there, and India’s aviation sector will likely be so much safer. Scindia stated:
“The ministry has decided to strengthen the DGCA. We and the DCGA will continue to place the highest importance on the safety of air operations. They will continue to take numerous proactive measures to ensure that the highest levels of safety standards are maintained by all airlines.”
_(28915135713).jpeg)
Bottom line
While sure elements of India’s aviation trade nonetheless lag when in comparison with the remainder of the world, it’s nonetheless optimistic that the trade is steadily enhancing for the higher. As the Indian market is ready to develop into one of many world’s largest in a number of years, strengthening its security is all the time the most effective type of insurance. The eventual hope is that the DGCA will emerge as a more durable aviation regulator, and the speed of incidents taking place will steadily decline. Still, it is an final result solely time will inform.
Source: Moneycontrol.com
