The parliamentary standing committee on Transport Tourism and Tradition in its security evaluate report on Wednesday advisable the federal government to have a time-bound plan to grant the Directorate Normal of Civil Aviation (DGCA) full administrative and monetary autonomy
The report learn, “That is crucial to deal with vital technical workers shortages attributable to an ineffective recruitment mannequin, an issue highlighted by previous skilled committees however by no means resolved.”
The panel, within the report, specified that almost 50% of the entire 1,063 sanctioned posts stay vacant with 553 posts crammed.
“Autonomy is important for the regulator to draw expertise, set industry-compensated salaries, and successfully implement compliance in a quickly increasing sector,” it added. The report nevertheless, specified that direct recruitment by the DGCA was presently not into account.
The report, tabled within the Lok Sabha, advisable establishing a time certain mechanism for the closure of all security deficiencies, with precedence for critical Stage I issues, and implementing stronger enforcement actions, together with monetary penalties for non-compliance.
With out naming an airline or an occasion, the report said that the advice was a response to the numerous and rising backlog of unresolved security findings, which indicated a “vital weak point” within the post-surveillance rectification course of that “undermines” your entire oversight program.
“Considerations additionally exist about audit high quality resulting from a scarcity of certified DGCA workers and airways prioritising profiteering over instant upkeep,” it learn.
The parliamentary panel additionally advisable the federal government to deal with recurring operational dangers and stated, “.. suggests mandating an in depth root-cause evaluation for each runway incursion and different recurring high-risk occasions, and establishing centered remedial applications for these areas.”
“That is essential as a result of key security targets for occasions like runway incursions are constantly being exceeded, indicating that the present incident evaluate course of is failing to translate classes discovered into efficient operational adjustments. Particular information on hen strikes and engine failures underscores the necessity for efficient remedial measures regardless of current systematic oversight,” it added.
Being attentive to the frequent helicopter incidents, the panel steered a uniform nationwide regulatory framework for all state-operated helicopter providers and necessary, terrain-specific pilot coaching.
“That is prompted by a sequence of accidents in high-risk environments managed by state-level businesses with restricted central oversight, revealing a regulatory ambiguity that creates unacceptable security gaps. Whereas the Ministry defines central and state roles and DGCA has issued a round for pilgrimage operations, the Committee highlights the necessity for extra proactive and uniform central oversight,” it said.
Moreover, it additionally highlighted points associated to air site visitors controllers’ (ATCOs) fatigue and advisable a nationwide Fatigue Danger Administration System (FRMS) and a complete staffing audit.
Equally, the report steered fatigue administration for flight crew and stated, “The Committee recommends rigorous implementation and steady analysis of human elements initiatives. This consists of guaranteeing strict compliance with up to date Flight Obligation Time Limitation (FDTL) laws for pilots and selling psychological well being consciousness and help for each flight crews and ATCOs, as outlined in latest DGCA circulars.”
