NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ) has ordered the removal of three Air India officials who are incharge of crew rostering following “lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements”. AI has been warned that “any future violation of crew scheduling norms, licensing, or flight time limitations will attract strict enforcement action, including but not limited to penalties, license suspension, or withdrawal of operator permissions as applicable” — basically the regulator has warned going to the extend of shutting down AI if lapses on this crucial front continue.
In response to the order, Air India said: "We acknowledge the regulator’s directive and have implemented the order. In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices."
The DGCA has also issued a showcase to the airline for operating two flights — Bangalore-London on May 16 & 17 — by making pilots fly for longer than the 10 hours that was allowed as per flight duty time limitation (FDTL) dispensation given to AI at that point of time.
The June 20 order on the three official says: “Repeated and serious violations voluntarily disclosed by Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements. These violations were discovered during review (in crew rostering platform transition). The voluntary disclosures, while noted, point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability. Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses.”
The order says the three identified senior officials “have been involved in serious and repeated lapses including but not limited to: Unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings; Violation of mandatory licensing and recency norms; Systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversight.”
The regulator has directed AI to “remove (these three) from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering. Internal disciplinary proceedings must be initiated against these officials without delay, and the outcome of such proceedings shall be reported to this office within 10 days from the date of issue of this letter. The (three) officials shall be reassigned to non-operational roles pending conclusion of corrective reforms in scheduling practices, and shall not hold any position involving direct influence over flight safety and crew compliance until further notice. Any future violation of crew scheduling norms, licensing, or flight time limitations detected in any post-audit or inspection, will attract strict enforcement action, including but not limited to penalties, license suspension, or withdrawal of operator permissions as applicable.”
Apart from this order, the DGCA on June 20 also issued a showcase to AI for violating FDTL norms for pilots of two Bangalore-London flights on May 16 and 17. “Accountable manager has failed to ensure adherence,” the notice while seeking a response within seven days.
Comments have been sought from AI on both these issues and are awaited.
In response to the order, Air India said: "We acknowledge the regulator’s directive and have implemented the order. In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices."
The DGCA has also issued a showcase to the airline for operating two flights — Bangalore-London on May 16 & 17 — by making pilots fly for longer than the 10 hours that was allowed as per flight duty time limitation (FDTL) dispensation given to AI at that point of time.
The June 20 order on the three official says: “Repeated and serious violations voluntarily disclosed by Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements. These violations were discovered during review (in crew rostering platform transition). The voluntary disclosures, while noted, point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability. Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses.”
The order says the three identified senior officials “have been involved in serious and repeated lapses including but not limited to: Unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings; Violation of mandatory licensing and recency norms; Systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversight.”
The regulator has directed AI to “remove (these three) from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering. Internal disciplinary proceedings must be initiated against these officials without delay, and the outcome of such proceedings shall be reported to this office within 10 days from the date of issue of this letter. The (three) officials shall be reassigned to non-operational roles pending conclusion of corrective reforms in scheduling practices, and shall not hold any position involving direct influence over flight safety and crew compliance until further notice. Any future violation of crew scheduling norms, licensing, or flight time limitations detected in any post-audit or inspection, will attract strict enforcement action, including but not limited to penalties, license suspension, or withdrawal of operator permissions as applicable.”
Apart from this order, the DGCA on June 20 also issued a showcase to AI for violating FDTL norms for pilots of two Bangalore-London flights on May 16 and 17. “Accountable manager has failed to ensure adherence,” the notice while seeking a response within seven days.
Comments have been sought from AI on both these issues and are awaited.
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