The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulatory body, has initiated a special audit of flying training organizations (FTOs) following a rise in accidents involving training aircraft.
The audit, scheduled to take place in three phases from September to November, will cover 33 FTOs. According to a DGCA statement, the purpose of the audit is to conduct a comprehensive review of safety standards, operational practices, and any systemic issues within these organizations to ensure strict compliance and maintain the highest levels of aviation safety.
The last audit of this kind was carried out in 2022. However, the DGCA has launched this fresh audit in response to several recent incidents involving training aircraft, which have raised concerns about the FTOs’ adherence to established aviation safety regulations.
The audit will examine various aspects of each FTO, including aircraft maintenance, airworthiness, and their training operations, to ensure they meet the required regulatory standards.
In a related move, last month the DGCA imposed a fine of Rs 90 lakh on Air India for operating flights with unqualified crew members. Additionally, the Director of Operations and the Director of Training at Air India were fined Rs 6 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively, bringing the total penalty to Rs 99 lakh.
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