Aviation Safety Alert: DGCA Finds Critical Lapses at Indian Airports

What the DGCA Surveillance Uncovered
A recent safety blitz by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) exposed critical vulnerabilities across major Indian airports. Key findings include:
Repeated defects on aircraft despite prior reporting
Non-compliance with safety protocols during maintenance
Missing documentation of defects in aircraft logbooks
Faded runway markings compromising landing safety
Worn-out aircraft tyres grounding flights until repair

Why This Matters for Aviation Safety
The DGCA’s “ramp inspections” (on-site checks of aircraft, crew, and ground operations) revealed systemic failures:
Airlines ignored recurring technical issues, risking passenger safety
Maintenance crews bypassed standard procedures, violating safety norms
Infrastructure flaws like faded runways increased accident risks
Critical incident: A domestic flight was halted mid-operation due to unsafe tyres – only cleared after emergency fixes

The Trigger: New Safety Framework Post-Ahmedabad Crash
These inspections followed DGCA’s June 19 order for comprehensive special audits after the Ahmedabad Air India crash (241 fatalities). The move aims to:
Strengthen India’s aviation safety architecture
Promote transparent reporting by protecting whistleblower data
Align with ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP)

DGCA’s Role in Aviation Safety: Key Exam Focus
For SSC/PSC aspirants, understand DGCA’s critical functions:
Regulatory oversight: Enforcing safety standards under the Aircraft Act
Surveillance: Conducting ramp checks and audits
Enforcement: Grounding unsafe aircraft, penalizing violations
Global compliance: Implementing ICAO safety protocols

Air vs. Road Safety: A Vital Context
While the DGCA report highlights air safety gaps, global data underscores aviation’s relative safety:
Road accidents cause 1.19 million deaths yearly (WHO)
Air travel records just 0.001 deaths per 100 million miles (US National Safety Council)
Commercial flight accidents fell from 4.9/million departures (2005) to 1.9 (2023) (ICAO)


Sample Questions & Answers (Current Affairs Focus)
Q: What prompted DGCA’s recent special safety audits at Indian airports?
A: The fatal Air India crash in Ahmedabad (June 2024) that caused 241 onboard fatalities.
Q: Define ‘ramp inspection’ in civil aviation.
A: On-site checks of aircraft, crew documents, and ground operations by regulators like DGCA to ensure safety compliance.
Q: Which global body’s audit programme influences DGCA’s safety policies?
A: ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).
Q: What critical lapse did DGCA observe in runway infrastructure?
A: Faded central line markings on runways, increasing landing risks.
Q: How does air travel safety compare to road travel statistically?
A: Air travel is 1,000x safer – 0.001 deaths/100M miles vs. 0.54 for road vehicles (US National Safety Council).