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DGCA Cracks Down on Charter Flights After Fatal Crashes, Unveils New Rules

The DGCA has announced a series of stringent new safety measures for Non-Scheduled Operators following recent fatal crashes. Operators must now publicly disclose critical safety information, including aircraft age and maintenance history, on their websites. The regulator will implement a safety ranking system, increase random cockpit voice recorder audits, and hold senior leadership personally accountable for lapses. These steps aim to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against safety compromises in the charter flight sector.

Key Points: DGCA Announces Stringent Safety Measures for Charter Operators

  • Mandatory safety disclosures on operator websites
  • Safety ranking system for all operators
  • Increased CVR audits and data cross-verification
  • Up to 5-year license suspension for pilot violations
  • Phase 2 of special safety audit to begin soon
2 min read

DGCA announces stringent measures for non-scheduled flight operators amid fatal crashes​

New DGCA rules mandate safety disclosures, pilot accountability, and operator rankings after recent fatal crashes involving non-scheduled flights.

"Accountable managers and senior leadership will be held personally responsible for systemic non-compliances - DGCA"

New Delhi, Feb 24

In a bid to address a recent surge in aviation incidents, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Tuesday announced stringent new measures to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against safety compromises in the Non-Scheduled Operators sector.​

The meeting with all NSOPs was called after all seven people on board an air ambulance that crashed in Jharkhand's Chatra district on Monday evening were killed. Last month, former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president, Ajit Pawar, died in the fatal crash involving a Learjet 45XR operated by VSR Ventures.​

The aviation regulator said it is introducing a mandatory disclosure policy.​

"NSOP operators will be required to disclose critical safety information on their websites, including aircraft age, maintenance history, and pilot experience. This ensures that customers are fully informed about the standards of the aircraft they charter," said the DGCA after the meeting.​

The regulator is planning to implement a safety ranking mechanism for all non-scheduled operators and to publish the criteria for such rankings on the DCA website for public information.​​

The authority will also conduct increased random Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) audits and cross-verify ADS-B data, fuel records, and technical logs to detect unauthorised operations or the "falsifying" of data.​

"Accountable managers and senior leadership will be held personally responsible for systemic non-compliances; safety lapses cannot simply be blamed on pilots," said the DGCA.​

Notably, pilots who violate Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) or attempt to land below safety minima may face license suspensions of up to 5 years. Operators failing to meet compliance standards will be penalised, and licenses/permits may be suspended.​

The aviation regulator further said that increased monitoring will be applied to older aircraft and those undergoing ownership changes.​

Furthermore, the regulator will audit NSOPs that run their own Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities.​

Those found to be inadequate will be required to outsource maintenance to approved organisations.​

The regulator noted that weather-related accidents are often the result of poor judgment rather than of weather unpredictability.​

"Operators are mandated to establish real-time weather update systems and strict compliance with established SOPs. Additionally, recurrent training for pilots must have greater emphasis on weather awareness strategies and decision-making in uncontrolled environments," the DGCA said.​

After the completion of phase 1 of the special safety audit of SOPs in early March, Phase 2, covering the remaining NSOPs, will be undertaken, it added.​

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Holding senior leadership personally accountable is the key point here. Too often, after such incidents, only the pilots face consequences while the systemic issues in the company that pressured them are ignored. This policy, if implemented correctly, could be a game-changer for aviation safety culture in India.
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Arjun K
Good move by DGCA. The ranking system will help common people like us choose a safer operator. But the real test is in the audits and penalties. Will they have the spine to ground big, influential operators? We've seen strict rules before, but enforcement is always the weak link.
P
Priya S
Focusing on older aircraft and MRO facilities is crucial. Many of these private charters use older planes that are sold here after their service life elsewhere. Proper maintenance is non-negotiable. Outsourcing to approved organisations is a must for those who can't maintain standards in-house.
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Rohit P
While the measures seem comprehensive, I hope this doesn't become another bureaucratic hurdle that just increases costs for operators and eventually for customers. The goal should be safer skies, not just more paperwork. The real-time weather system mandate is a very practical step.
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Michael C
The point about weather-related accidents being due to poor judgment is spot on. In a country with diverse terrain and weather patterns like India, pilot training on decision-making is critical. Recurrent training with a focus on this can save lives. A sensible policy.

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