DGCA's Annual Audit Uncovers Safety Lapses at Air India

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has identified several safety concerns in Air India's operations during its annual audit. These issues, separate from the recent AI-171 plane crash, highlight significant areas needing immediate attention.

Key findings include insufficient pilot training, use of unauthorized flight simulators, and flawed rostering procedures. The Tata Group-owned airline has previously been warned for safety violations, such as operating without proper emergency equipment checks and mismanaging crew fatigue.

Critical Violations and Compliance Issues

A confidential DGCA report outlined seven critical "Level I" violations, with deadlines for resolution, and 44 additional compliance issues. Training deficiencies among Boeing 787 and 777 pilots and inadequate route evaluations for challenging airports were notably highlighted.

Operational and Safety Concerns

The audit also revealed instances of pilots exceeding flight-duty timings and a crew scheduling system failing to alert on understaffed flights, particularly on international routes.

Air India's Response

Air India has assured transparency and compliance, promising to address the DGCA's findings within the stipulated timelines. The airline operates a significant fleet of Boeing 787s and 777s, as per Flightradar24.