Two months after a Learjet 45 crashed near Baramati, killing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, India’s aviation regulator on Friday issued sweeping new rules for flights carrying high-ranking constitutional officers and politicians, warning that violations could cost operators their permits and pilots their licences.
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam Order 2024, dated March 27, replaces safety circulars that have not been reviewed for decades. It covers flights carrying the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Deputy Speaker of the Rajya Sabha, Prime Ministers, Governors, Union Cabinet Ministers and the Chief Justice of India.
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In essence a reformulation of empirical authority. Operators are prohibited from subjecting flight crews to commercial pressure to undertake flights that may jeopardize safety. Last-minute itinerary changes requested by VIPs must be routed through airline management – not transmitted directly to the cockpit.
“The aircraft operator shall ensure that flight operations are conducted in accordance with the rules of the aircraft and instructions issued from time to time and that the cabin crew is not subjected to undue pressure to undertake a flight which may affect the safety of operations,” the order said. “Any last-minute changes to a planned flight due to VIP requirements should be coordinated through organization management only, and not directly with the crew.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has authorized twin-engine aircraft with a crew of at least two people for all VIP operations. The aircraft must have an airworthy certificate and fully operational radar and weather navigation systems. Any defect must be corrected before the next flight, with no tolerance exceeding established maintenance limits.
Pilot eligibility has been tightened. Fixed-wing aircraft pilots must now log at least 3,000 flight hours, including 2,000 hours as a pilot. Helicopter pilots must have at least 2,000 hours.
On January 28, a Learjet 45 carrying Pawar crashed while on approach to land at an uncontrolled airfield near Baramati. Preliminary report On February 28, a chartered plane of VSR Aviation carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed when the crew attempted to land at a visual distance of 3,000 metres, against the legal minimum visual flight range of 5,000 metres, the preliminary investigation report said.
The order expands the protection applied to pilots to include aircraft maintenance engineers. “Flight planning and management are professional responsibilities that must remain under the sound judgment of the flight crew and flight controllers. They must be free from any external pressure or undue influence,” the statement read.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation characterized electoral aviation as “demanding,” citing long hours, multiple sectors, poor rest periods, last-minute schedule changes, and crowded airspace as exacerbation risks. Operators must appoint a dedicated compliance officer for election flight operations.
Written permission must be obtained from district authorities at least 24 hours before using any helipad or airstrip, with verified coordinates and confirmed arrangements for security, fire and rescue. Flight crews must verify obstacle-free approach paths and performance compliance before each takeoff and landing. Detailed flight plans, passenger lists and loading papers must be submitted to air traffic control.
Operators must routinely brief VIP travelers and keep an on-board booklet covering the aircraft’s capabilities and limitations before each flight. No unauthorized money, weapons or illegal items may be carried, in line with the guidelines of the Election Commission and the Security Agency.
Penalties
The DGCA said non-compliance could call for action ranging from a formal warning and suspension of a pilot or aircraft maintenance engineer’s licence, suspension of operations for a specified period, or cancellation of an air operator’s permit.
