DGCA to audit major Indian airlines
Audit assumes significance amidst expanding fleet of domestic carriers
Indian aviation regulator, DGCA to start special audit of scheduled domestic airlines to check their compliance with various safety and airworthiness requirements. The exercise has been announced to be of significance amid news of expanding fleet of scheduled domestic airlines.
The special audit will be carried in November for ensuring the safety of Indian flyers, a population which is increasing in numbers according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the body responsible for ensuring the safety of the Indian skies.
The exercise, which is part of a “continual process”, also comes against the backdrop of incidents of alleged violation of safety norms involving certain carriers.
“Special audit of all scheduled domestic carriers would be done and the regulator carries out such exercises at certain intervals,” a senior DGCA official stated. “It (special audit) is a continual process which is being undertaken,” the official added.
IndiGo, SpiceJet, Jet Airways, Air India, GoAir, Vistara and AirAsia India are among the scheduled domestic airlines who are to be included in the special audit process.
According to an official from a major Indian domestic airline, “We are looking forward to this special audit as this will help ensure our flyers of our compliance with safety requirements. We believe, this is a very important step for every domestic airline given the rising number of passengers taking to air routes to reach their destinations. India’s aviation sector truly has potential, as is evident from several recent reports, so this audit will only help improve India’s stance in the aviation market.” He further stated, “This audit will focus mainly on the scheduled domestic airline and their compliance with multiple safety requirements.”
However, another senior official of yet another airline stated, “This is part of the DGCA ‘s preparation for its upcoming audit by United Nation’s aviation watchdog, ICAO. This audit is not due to the regulator finding any discrepancy in our operations as we increase our flights.”
India’s aviation market has been growing steadily over the past few years, given impetus by the launch of the Regional Connectivity Scheme, announcing it as one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world.
The exercise has started off with the regulatory body ordering a “special audit” of IndiGo, Jet Airways and SpiceJet. In the second phase, other major domestic airlines like Air India and GoAir will be audited.
