The Aviation Regulatory, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered immediate action against three senior officials of Air India after severe and repeated violations related to flight crew scheduling. These flaws voluntarily reported by the airline showed that the flight crew was scheduled and operated despite not completing compulsory licensing, comfort and reaction norms. The ARMS (Aviation Resource Management System- an integrated system uses for cruel management) revealed violations during the CAE flight and after review of infection in the CAE flight and crew management system.
The instruction came as part of a comprehensive investigation of possible operating flaws behind the crasher of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Flight AI-171 going to London on June 12, crashed soon after flying in the BJ Medical College Hostel premises in Ahmedabad. In this accident, 241 people, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, were killed and many people were killed on the ground.
In the respective and important developments, DGCA has issued a show cause notice to the airline’s accountable manager, stating that a spot check has revealed violations of flight duty criteria. According to the regulator, the officer operated two back-to-back long-range flights from Bengaluru to London (AI133) on 16 and 17 May, both were both above the permissible flight time limit of 10 hours. The aviation regulator has asked the officer to explain within seven days why the enforcement action should not be taken for the violation. Additionally, the DGCA has directed to initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against all concerned authorities without any delay, and the results of these proceedings should be reported within 10 days.
Sources in the aviation sector say that three removed officers were directly involved in planning the crew roster and duty bicycle, which are important tasks that ensure compliance with safety rules on the working hours and rest periods of the pilot. The move indicates further stringent monitoring after the recent incident is considered one of India’s worst aviation disasters.
