Aviation chief defends safety record

How safe is the sky of India?

It is a question that many ask after the destruction of June India airline crashesWho killed at least 270 people. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, linked to London, decreased less than a minute after it left Ahmedabad Airport in western India on June 12.

“The sky of India has always been safe – in the past and until today,” said Fayez Ahmed Kidawi, President of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) – Air Safety Organization in India – in an interview with BBC.

If you look at global safety standards, such as those Published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)Which follows the number of accidents in a million journey, India is working constantly better than the global average. ”

“There were only two years during the period 2010-2024, when we exceeded the global average – those years when the main incidents occurred.”

In August 2020, Air India Express Flight 1344 crashed After slipping from the coded table in Kozhikode, killing 21 people. A decade ago, in May 2010, Flight 812 from Dubai She was overwhelmed by the runway in Mangalor and fell in a corridor, leaving 158 people. The crash of India in June was the third of this country in the country 15 years ago.

While such major incidents are still rare, modern titles have raised new concerns. From the Delhi-Srinagar trip, which has reached severe disturbances, to the increasing reports of maintenance and lack of training, the focus is once again on questions about aviation safety.

She shared the latest Spicejet, the fourth largest and longest low -cost airline in India.

Economic times The newspaper found that the aviation organizer recently called the airline’s leadership after a series of disturbing results – not routine audits, but it was established by a British airline.

The newspaper reported that it had started earlier this year when two turbines from the Disigit de Havilland Q400 showed premature fan failures. The airline was alerted the Dowty fans, a GE -led UK manufacturer, which has found damage to the internal stands of fans.

Each fan has holders with two races, episodes or tracks. In this case, the inner race is damaged. Instead of treating the root cause, it was reported that Spicejet “” Continue to apply more grease to [entire] The newspaper reported that the unit instead of treating the root cause.

The report said that the DGCA review in April “revealed more shortcomings, including obstacles.”

Mr. Kidwai BBC told the issue of the turbocharged fan caught our attention through a maintenance organizer at Spicejet.

“We took it with Spicejet and we were sure to take corrective measures. We also discovered that senior management was not fully aware of this position. We have taken measures against various centers who were supposed to ensure compliance with the original company of equipment and other regulations. We have directed Spaejet to remove and suspend them.”

Recently, Reuters I mentioned that the flying monitoring reprimanded the Indian airline in March to delay the alternatives to the mandatory engine part of Airbus A320 and forge the records to show compliance.

Air India Express told Al -Anbaa agency that it had a mistake in DGCA and the implementation of “treatment and preventive measures”.

Mr. Kidawi BBC told this issue that the information was made by “self -reporting by the airline.”

“I will not condone it [the lapses]. but [at least] We started getting these reports. This came from the airline. Action has been taken in this case. In our audit operations, we assumed our people to be more warning and know if there is any attention and we will pay attention to us. “

In May, Nili’s trip from Delhi to Srinagar faced severe disorder and cold after about 45 minutes of takeoff.

According to Airbus A321, which carries 222 passengers, the maximum vertical air currents – codifying the tools followed by the expenses that were removed and caused the nose damage. The crew declared a state of emergency and fell safely in Serenagar without injuries. The organizer launched an investigation, Pilots have been grounded.

Mr. Kidawi BBC told the organizer that the organizer had “refined” his guidance for pilots who fly in turbulent conditions.

For example, if there is a large cloud cover or any ritual style that poses a danger – and “we clearly identified what poses such a risk” – pilots now must take specific action for a specific number of marine miles before reaching it.

“This may include conversion, wandering or taking other appropriate steps.”

Since 2020, the Indian local transport companies have reported 2,461 technical errors, according to the data of the Federal Ministry of Civil Aviation. Indigo formed more than half (1,288), followed by Spicejet with 633, Air India and its branch Air India Express with 389 cases, as of January 2025.

“The reporting of obstacles has increased by airlines. This is a good thing,” said Mr. Kidawi.

“I will not say that I am pleased with it. But I see the value in the culture of increasing reports [snags]. It is much better to draw the attention of the authorities to every obstacle to maintain calm and operate the plane. ”

“It is important to know if the time transferred for flights is [maintenance] Checks or not. “

Certainly, the demands of the regulator have grown: India has emerged as the third largest passenger passenger market. However, over the past two years, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has faced Budget discountsWhich reflects a reduced financial priority for the sector.

Today, the country scheduled companies operate approximately 850 aircraft – a significant increase from about 400 a decade before only.

The number of air passengers has doubled more than twice since 2014-15 – from 116 million to 239 million.

The number of commercial airport has also seen a significant increase-from about 60 to 70 years to nearly 130-140 today.

“In total, including both scheduled and unlimited operators, we now have 1,288 aircraft under operation. By the end of the contract, we are expected to operate more than 2000 aircraft,” said Mr. Kidawi. (Non -ice operators include rented airlines, private aircraft operators, air taxis and helicopters services.

Did the latest Air Index have the reputation of air travel in India? Mr. Kidway said that the data did not indicate that.

“We looked at the data to assess whether it had any impact on local or international operations. There was no significant decrease in traffic. At most, we noticed a very marginal decline for a short period, which affects local and international flights, along with some cancellation.”

“It is normal for people to feel anxious after such accidents. But with the passage of time, with more clarity and mode, this anxiety tends to calm down. Time is a great processor.”