DGCA Tightens Guidelines For Release Of Aircraft Amid Series Of Technical Snag Incidents

DGCA New Guidelines: The guidelines came after DGCA officials conducted several spot checks in order to ensure that airlines were adhering to laid down standards.

There has been a series of technical snag related occurrences in planes in the last few days

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DGCA New Guidelines: Following a series of technical snag related incidents in planes in the last few weeks, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday tightened guidelines for airlines. The aviation regulator said all aircraft at base and transit stations should be released by certifying staff holding licence with appropriate authorisation by their organisation, IANS reported. 

The guidelines came after DGCA officials conducted several spot checks in order to ensure that airlines were adhering to laid down standards. All airlines have to comply with the new guidelines by July 28.

Before each departure, an aircraft is checked and certified by an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME).

READ | Aviation Minister Scindia Meets Chiefs Of Indian Carriers, Asks To Ramp Up Safety Oversight: Report

The DGCA has also identified non-availability of required certifying staff to cater to multiple arrivals and departure of flights in short intervals as another cause for concern.

It has also been noted that airlines were resorting to frequent one-off authorisation to category A certifying staff at transit stations that were not in line with existing regulatory provisions.

"Keeping above in view it has been decided that all aircrafts at base and transit stations shall be released by certifying staff holding AME category B1/B2 license with appropriate authorisation by their organisations," the DGCA said in a statement.

The regulator also found that there was an "increasing trend of MEL (minimum equipment list) releases" of aircraft. "MEL releases" means an aircraft is allowed to fly with certain inoperative equipment or instruments for a specific period of time, until the repairs are done.

Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia held meetings with chiefs of Indian airlines, asking them to strengthen safety oversight. Scindia reportedly told each airline to take all necessary steps to ramp up safety oversight.

On Sunday, IndiGo's Sharjah-Hyderabad flight was diverted to Karachi after pilots observed a defect in one of the engines. On Saturday, the Calicut-Dubai flight of the Air India Express was diverted to Muscat after a burning smell was observed in the cabin mid-air.

Earlier this month, the DGCA issued a show-cause notice to SpiceJet following at least eight incidents of technical malfunction in its aircraft since June 19.