DGCA’s comprehensive surveillance at major airports reveals numerous lapses, deficiencies related to aviation safety

Following its June 19 order on launch of a new framework for comprehensive special audits to assess the aviation ecosystem and strengthen aviation safety architecture, the DGCA initiated a focused assessment of the aviation ecosystem to strengthen safety measures across the sector. The framework was announced by the regulator a week after the deadly crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft in Ahmedabad, in which 241 of the 242 people on board perished. There were a number of casualties on the ground as well. The crash is being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

“..two teams led by the Joint Director General carried out comprehensive surveillance during night and early morning hours at major airports including Delhi and Mumbai airports. The surveillance covered multiple critical areas such as flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, air traffic control (ATC), communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) systems, and pre-flight medical evaluations. Throughout the surveillance, ground activities and aircraft movements were closely monitored to check the compliance of regulatory requirements and to identify weak areas for improvement,” the DGCA said in a statement on Tuesday.

The surveillance findings included multiple cases where the reported defects re-appeared many times on the Aircraft, indicating ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification action on the defects, the regulator said.

“…ground handling equipment such as baggage trollies…were found unserviceable; line maintenance stores, tool control procedures were not followed; during maintenance of aircraft, the work order was not followed; the unserviceable thrust reverser system and flap slat lever were not locked; during maintenance, safety precautions found not taken by AME (aircraft maintenance engineer) as per AMM (aircraft maintenance manual); at places, AME was not attending to the snag rectification; defect reports generated by the aircraft system, were not found recorded in the technical logbook; several life vests were not properly secured beneath their designated seats; the corrosion-resistant tape on the right-hand side winglet’s lower blade was found to be damaged,” The DGCA said, listing a number of deficiencies and problems observed during the surveillance exercise.

The regulator, however, did not name the concerned airports, airlines, and other aviation ecosystem players. As per the framework announced for the comprehensive special audits, the DGCA is supposed to protect safety information, commercial data, and personal details during such exercises to foster open reporting and a positive safety culture.

“Similarly at an airport, centre line marking of runway was observed faded; the rapid exit taxiway, green centre light were not unidirectional; the obstruction limitation data has not been updated for last three years and no survey has been performed despite many new constructions around the vicinity of the aerodrome; a number of vehicles in the ramp area were found without speed governors…A simulator was checked and found not matching with the aircraft configuration. Also, the software was not updated to the current version,” the DGCA added.

The regulator said that all the findings observed during the surveillance “have been communicated to the concerned.

Operators” for taking necessary corrective actions within seven days. It added that the process of comprehensive surveillance will continue in future to detect hazards in the system.