India’s aviation regulator issued a sweeping safety warning to charter flight operators on Tuesday after a decade’s worth of accident data revealed systemic failures across the sector: pilots sidelined by commercial pressures, flight crews flying in dangerous weather, and shortcomings in training.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued the advisory at a high-level meeting on Tuesday with over 300 representatives of non-scheduled operator permit (NSOP) holders, according to three officials who spoke to HT on condition of anonymity. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation later confirmed the meeting in an official statement.
This warning follows a comprehensive review of accident data from the past decade, which “identifies non-adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs), inadequate flight planning, and training deficiencies as the primary causes of aircraft accidents in this sector.”
The regulator also warned that it will step up random checks of cockpit voice recorder (CVR) audits and verification of ADS-B data, fuel logs and technical logs to detect unauthorized operations or “falsification” of data.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been conducting safety audits of NSOPs and helicopter operators since earlier this month following a series of accidents. These incidents include the January 28 Learjet 45 crash that killed former Maharashtra CM Ajit Pawar in Baramati. On Monday, a chartered plane carrying a burn patient from Ranchi to Delhi crashed minutes after take-off, killing all seven passengers on board.
The regulatory body recalled what it referred to as instances of undermining the pilot’s authority. In aviation, the pilot in command (PIC) has the final say in deciding whether or not to fly. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation reiterated that the civil aviation company’s decision to divert, delay or cancel the flight for safety reasons is final and must be respected by the operators without commercial consequences.
“The DGCA warned of heavy financial penalties and said it would not hesitate to shut down operations if safety standards are not met,” an official said.
The DGCA also noted that crews were not adhering to weather minimums – the minimum conditions for visibility, wind speed and cloud height required for a safe flight – and noted that weather-related accidents are often the result of poor judgment rather than weather unpredictability. Operators were tasked with creating systems to update the weather in real time.
The regulator said pilots who violate flight time restrictions (FDTL) or attempt to land below mandatory safety minimums could face suspension of their license for up to five years. Operators who fail to meet compliance standards face penalties and possible suspension of licenses or permits.
The DGCA also said that responsible directors and senior leadership will be personally responsible for systemic non-compliances. “The pilots cannot be blamed for safety lapses,” the statement said.
The regulatory body has also intensified oversight of the NSOP fleet. Measures include increasing random audits. A fourth official told HT that recording defects or flight details will not be avoided.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will additionally conduct enhanced airworthiness checks for older aircraft and whenever ownership of the aircraft changes. NSOPs that operate their own maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities will face audits; Those found deficient will be required to outsource maintenance to approved organizations.
As part of transparency measures, NSOPs will be required to publish important safety information on their websites – including aircraft age, maintenance history, and pilot experience. “This ensures that customers are fully informed of the standards of the aircraft they charter,” the regulator said.
The DGCA also plans to publish the safety ratings of all non-scheduled operators on its website.
