DGCA flags major safety lapses at airports, orders corrective action within seven days

The findings have prompted the aviation regulator to direct concerned operators to implement necessary corrective actions within seven days.

The DGCA's surveillance of the major airports has revealed "ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification action on the defects."

This focused safety assessment follows the issuance of an Order on June 19. Under this initiative, two teams led by the Joint Director General of DGCA conducted surveillance during the night and early morning hours, targeting key areas of aviation operations. These included flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, air traffic control (ATC), communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) systems, and pre-flight medical evaluations.

During the inspection, multiple instances were observed where reported defects in aircraft systems had reappeared without adequate rectification, pointing to ineffective monitoring. Several pieces of ground handling equipment, such as baggage trolleys and BFL units, were found unserviceable.

Multiple cases wherein the reported defects reappeared many times on the aircraft, indicating the ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification action on the defects/ repeated defects; Ground handling equipment such as baggage trollies, BFL, etc were found unserviceable; Line maintenance stores, tool control procedures were not followed, the release said.

Maintenance procedures were also found lacking. In numerous cases, work orders were not followed, tool control procedures were ignored, and safety precautions outlined in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) were not adhered to. Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) were found neglecting defect rectifications, and critical fault reports were not logged in technical documents. Some aircraft were found with unsecured life vests and damaged corrosion-resistant tape on wing components.

'During maintenance of aircraft, the work order was not followed; The unserviceable thrust reverser system and Flap Slat Lever were not locked; during maintenance, Safety Precautions found not taken by AME as per AMM; at places, AME was not attending to the snag rectification; defect reports generated by the aircraft system, were not found recorded in the technical logbook; several life vests were not properly secured beneath their designated seats; the corrosion-resistant tape on the right-hand side winglet's lower blade was found to be damaged', the release added.

Additional deficiencies were identified at the airport level. These included faded runway centre line markings, improperly functioning green centre lights on rapid exit taxiways, and outdated obstruction limitation data--unchanged for over three years despite new construction around aerodromes.

Similarly, at an airport, the centre line marking of the runway was observed faded; The rapid exit taxiway green centre light was not unidirectional; the obstruction limitation data has not been updated for the last three years, and no survey has been performed despite many new constructions around the vicinity of the aerodrome; number of vehicles in the ramp area were found without speed governors. The release added that these vehicles were withdrawn by cancelling their AVP, and drivers' ADP were suspended.

Several vehicles were operating without speed governors in the ramp areas. As a corrective step, their Airside Vehicle Permits (AVPs) were cancelled, and the drivers' Airside Driving Permits (ADPs) were suspended.

A simulator inspection revealed mismatches with the aircraft configuration and outdated software, raising training standard concerns.

A simulator was checked and found not to match the aircraft configuration. Also, the software was not updated to the current version, as mentioned in the release.

In a separate case, a domestic flight was delayed due to worn-out tyres and was released only after necessary rectification was completed.

A domestic flight of a scheduled carrier was held up due to worn tyres and it was released only after the required rectification was carried out. All the findings observed during the surveillance have been communicated to the concerned operators for taking necessary corrective actions within seven days, the release said.

Based on these observations, the DGCA has formally communicated the findings to all concerned operators. They have been directed to implement all necessary corrective actions within seven days to address the identified safety risks.

The DGCA emphasised that such comprehensive surveillance efforts will continue in the future to proactively identify and mitigate safety hazards in India's civil aviation ecosystem.