DGCA warns lack of preparedness posing risk to aviation safety

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has warned that lack of preparedness among airline operators in complying with guidelines issued by the regulator from time to time poses potential risks to aviation safety. 

The DGCA periodically issues operating regulations to ensure flight safety, operational efficiency and overall aviation safety through Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), Aeronautical Information Circulars (AICs) and other notifications. Compliance with these regulations by operators is mandatory.

In a safety circular issued to all stakeholders, the DGCA stressed that proper and effective compliance with regulatory requirements could be achieved only through advance preparation.

Lack of preparedness

“It has been noticed that there is a lack of the requisite level of preparedness to ensure timely and effective implementation of regulations issued by the DGCA. This has resulted in potential risks to aviation safety and inconvenience to passengers,” the circular said.

Highlighting the importance of adequate planning, the regulator advised all stakeholders to devise a detailed implementation strategy well in advance of the effective date of any new operating regulation. The strategy should factor in both available resources and additional requirements, if any.

Airline operators and other stakeholders were directed to ensure the timely availability of all resources and verify their functionality. “Wherever necessary, functionality trials or dry runs shall be completed well ahead of implementation,” the DGCA said.

The regulator has also sought submission of implementation plans, along with data and results of dry runs, prior to the actual date of enforcement of the regulations. Stakeholders have been instructed to closely monitor the implementation of CARs, AICs and other directives for a period of six months and submit periodic reports to the DGCA.