Even after the expiry of the license period, Air India’s A320 aircraft took off 8 times, due to which the safety of passengers was ignored. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered an investigation into this serious matter.
New Delhi: It has been revealed that an Air India aircraft has flown 8 times even after the license period has expired, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered an investigation into the matter. It is alleged that Air India’s 164-seat A320 aircraft flew 8 times with an expired airworthiness license, due to which there was negligence in the safety of passengers. DGCA has started inquiry in this matter. According to the report of English media Economic Times, this A320 aircraft flew 8 times on 24 and 25 November. This major fault was later discovered by an engineer, after which the aircraft was removed from service.
DGCA starts investigation, possibility of heavy fine on Air India
Due to this incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has started an investigation. Every aircraft is given an airworthiness certificate by DGCA and it has to be renewed every year. It is issued only after the aircraft has completed all required maintenance checks and is found safe to fly. Flying an aircraft without the correct license and certificate is a serious violation of safety rules. Therefore, Air India could face huge fines as well as possible action against senior officials, the report said, quoting a government official. The report also said that Air India is facing insurance related problems due to flying despite the expiry of the license period.
Amidst the memories of Ahmedabad plane crash, another big mistake of Air India
This incident has come to light after the Air India Dreamliner accident that took place in Ahmedabad on June 12, in which 260 people died. The airline is trying to regain its reputation and reassure passengers that safety is its number one priority. According to the report, the airline has said that everyone involved in the decision to send the aircraft without a valid license has already been suspended.
This should not have happened in Air India: Official
The A320 Airbus is currently non-operational due to the ongoing DGCA investigation. Operating an aircraft with an expired license can lead to cancellation of its insurance, which may cause Air India to face problems with its lessors. A government official said the airline put both the aircraft and its passengers at risk by using an aircraft that was unairworthy. He said that this is a serious violation which should not have happened in a big airline like Air India.
DGCA conducts surprise inspections, but it is the responsibility of the airlines to keep their planes in a safe and approved condition. An Air India spokesperson said the DGCA was informed as soon as the matter came to light and the airline has initiated a detailed internal investigation.
Concern about Air India’s safety rules
Senior aircraft engineers pointed out that with today’s digital systems, it is very difficult to ignore everyday tasks like license renewal or maintenance checks. The report said that Air India has its own Continuous Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO), whose responsibility is to monitor these requirements.
Renewal process three months before the license expires
A DGCA inspector said airlines usually start the renewal process at least three months before the deadline. Due to this the certificates get renewed before time. When an aircraft stops overnight after completing its daily schedule, an engineer has to check all the documents and approvals. But flying this aircraft eight times with an expired license raises serious questions on Air India’s safety procedures, he said.
Air India has used expired aircraft parts
DGCA is expected to consider this mistake a Level 1 violation, the most serious category affecting aircraft safety. This puts Air India on the list of security lapses that could hamper operations. Earlier, top officials including Air India CEO Campbell Wilson had received show cause notices for allowing some Air India planes to operate with some expired spare parts. Just a few months ago, the head of Air India’s engineering quality department, which supervised the audit, was also suspended.
These recurring problems are happening 4 years after Tata Group acquired Air India. A senior Air India executive said the airline is now heavily dependent on the support of Singapore Airlines, which holds a 25.1% stake in the company, to strengthen its engineering systems. According to the report, Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President of Engineering Services Jeremy Yu has already been inducted into Air India and it is expected that more experts from SIA will also join.