DGCA starts inspection of Air India’s main hub for aircraft airworthiness; surveillance planned before crash, say officials

The aviation regulator has applied a reformed audit methodology to make sure larger thoroughness. (AI picture)

The DGCA will undertake a radical evaluation of Air India‘s main facility in Gurugram. This planned analysis, scheduled before the June 12 Ahmedabad airplane crash, will confirm aircraft documentation, airworthiness standing, and crew-related information together with coaching and responsibility hours, as detailed in documentation reviewed by ET.A senior DGCA official, talking anonymously, clarified that this inspection is a regular yearly surveillance exercise and never a response to the crash.The timing coincides with heightened regulatory oversight of Air India’s operations following the accident. DGCA officials have been instructed to submit complete particulars of all Air India inspections and audits carried out since 2024.

Air India cuts

The aviation regulator has applied a reformed audit methodology to make sure larger thoroughness. This modification follows the tragic Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner accident in Ahmedabad, which resulted in 241 passenger fatalities and over 30 floor casualties.Previously, Indian aviation’s regulatory and security supervision operated independently, with separate departments conducting specialised inspections and audits inside their respective areas.The DGCA has outlined numerous monitoring actions, together with scheduled and impromptu surveillance checks and ramp assessments, which consider security requirements and compliance throughout aviation sectors.The revised construction represents a complete strategy to aviation oversight, transitioning from remoted monitoring strategies to an built-in analysis system.Also Read | ‘Violation of standard airworthiness…’: Days before Air India crash, DGCA warned airline of breaching security guidelines on Airbus aircraft: ReportThe evaluation course of will concentrate on three key domains: evaluating the effectivity of organisational security administration protocols, scrutinising operational methodologies, and verifying adherence to regulatory requirements.A high-ranking DGCA consultant indicated that specialised groups comprising specialists in air security, aircraft airworthiness, crew coaching requirements and air navigation will conduct these detailed assessments.Regular audits will probably be applied for airways, airports, upkeep amenities and flight coaching establishments. The official clarified that while severe incidents or persistent non-compliance would possibly necessitate an audit, routine assessments will probably be carried out with advance notification to organisations.On Sunday, Air India introduced a brief discount of 118 weekly narrow-body aircraft flights throughout 19 routes, alongside the suspension of operations on three routes.