The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has levied a substantial penalty of Rs 80 lakh on Air India for contravening flight duty time regulations (FDTL) and fatigue management system (FMS) protocols, signaling a stern response to safety breaches.
Violations Uncovered:
- Insufficient Rest Periods: Audit findings revealed inadequate weekly rest periods for crew members, along with insufficient rest before and after ultra-long-range flights and during layovers.
- Exceeding Duty Periods: Instances of pilots surpassing duty periods, inaccurately recorded as training sessions, were identified, posing potential safety hazards.
- Crew Composition: Air India was found operating flights with both flight crew members aged above 60 years flying together, violating aviation rules.
DGCA’s Observations:
The analysis of reports and evidence highlighted Air India’s deficiencies in ensuring adequate rest for flight crew members, as mandated by Civil Aviation Requirements pertaining to FDTL.
Previous Sanctions:
Earlier this year, DGCA imposed a Rs 30 lakh fine on Air India following the unfortunate demise of an 80-year-old passenger during the immigration process on February 12, underscoring the regulator’s commitment to enforcing safety standards rigorously.
