Aviation Regulator DGCA Suspends 2 Akasa Air Directors For 6 Months Over Lapses In Pilot Training

DGCA suspended Akasa Air's director of operations and director of training for six months due to lapses in pilot training.

Image used for representational purposes | Akasa Air, in which the Rakesh Jhunjhunwala family holds stakes, faced scrutiny following a regulatory audit on October 7.

Source : Akasa Air

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday suspended Akasa Air's director of operations and director of training for six months, citing lapses in pilot training. The suspension follows unsatisfactory responses to show-cause notices issued to the two senior executives on October 15 and October 30, respectively.  

According to the DGCA’s orders dated 27 December, the officials failed to ensure compliance with the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). The regulator also advised Akasa Air to nominate suitable replacements for the two positions, news agency PTI reported.  

The DGCA stated, “It has been found in a regulatory audit conducted by DGCA on October 7, 2024, at M/s SNV Aviation Private Limited (Akasa Air), Mumbai, that RNP training (Approaches) is being conducted on simulators which have not been qualified for the same... which is in violation of Para 7 of CAR Section 7, Series D, Part VI.”  

The regulator further noted, “The director of operations and the director of training at Akasa Air failed to ensure the compliances of Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). The two officials failed to train personnel adequately ... also repeated lapses/violation has been found pertaining to training.” It added that the executives had “failed to discharge duties to meet applicable legal requirements and to maintain safe operations as per certain provisions of a particular CAR.”  

Akasa Air On DGCA Order

In a statement, Akasa Air acknowledged receiving the DGCA’s order. “Akasa Air is in receipt of an order from the DGCA dated 27th December 2024. We will continue to work with the DGCA and comply accordingly. Safety is of utmost importance, and we continuously strive to pursue the highest standards of safety,” the airline said, as quoted by PTI. 

The airline, in which the Rakesh Jhunjhunwala family holds stakes, faced scrutiny following a regulatory audit on October 7. The DGCA highlighted that certain training sessions were conducted using simulators unqualified for specific approaches, breaching regulatory norms.