Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation addressed Lok Sabha question 277 regarding aircraft audits. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducts regular surveillance and audits, including inspections and checks of aircraft and maintenance practices. Following an Air India incident on June 12, 2025, DGCA ordered inspections of Air India's 33 787 Dreamliner aircraft and issued a safety circular for a comprehensive aviation ecosystem audit on June 19, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
DGCA Oversight and Audits:
- DGCA has a structured framework for safety oversight, including planned and unplanned surveillance of aircraft and organizations.
- This framework includes regular and periodic audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections.
- DGCA takes enforcement action for violations according to its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.
Air India 787 Dreamliner Inspections:
- Following an accident involving Air India flight AI171 on June 12, 2025, DGCA ordered inspections of all 33 Air India 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
- 31 operational aircraft were inspected, with minor findings in 8 aircraft, which were rectified before release for operation.
- The remaining 2 aircraft are undergoing scheduled maintenance.
General Safety Circular:
- DGCA issued General Safety Circular 01/2025 on June 19, 2025.
- The circular deals with a comprehensive special audit to assess the aviation ecosystem and strengthen aviation safety architecture.
Emergency Landings:
- Two emergency landings due to technical issues were reported in 2025: one Air India Express flight and one Indigo flight.
- On June 12, 2025, an Air India aircraft VT-ANB declared a MAYDAY emergency and was involved in an accident.
Airworthiness Certification:
- DGCA issues the Certificate of Airworthiness and Airworthiness Review Certificate, as per Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR).
- Operators are responsible for maintaining continuous airworthiness of their aircraft.
- DGCA checks aircraft maintenance records to ensure airworthiness.
Impact Analysis:
DGCA:
Impact: Directed to continue structured surveillance and audit framework, conduct special audits, and enforce safety regulations.
Action Required: Continue regular audits, implement the General Safety Circular 01/2025, and enforce regulations as needed.
Airlines Operating in India (Specifically Air India):
Impact: Subject to DGCA audits and inspections, responsible for maintaining aircraft airworthiness.
Action Required: Comply with DGCA audit requirements, maintain airworthiness of aircraft, rectify findings, and adhere to safety circular guidelines.
Aircraft Operators:
Impact: Responsible for maintaining continuous airworthiness of aircraft.
Action Required: Maintain airworthiness of aircraft according to CAR.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The regulatory body in India responsible for civil aviation.
SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.: Member of LOK SABHA who raised the starred question.
Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu: Minister of CIVIL AVIATION.
Air India: An airline operating in India, mentioned in the context of aircraft audits and incidents.
Boeing 787Dreamliner: Type of aircraft operated by Air India, subject to inspections.
General Safety Circular 01/2025: A circular issued by DGCA regarding a comprehensive special audit to assess aviation ecosystem and strengthen aviation safety architecture.
Air India Express: An airline that had an emergency landing due to technical issues.
Indigo: An airline that had an emergency landing due to technical issues.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. : 277
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7th August 2025 )
AUDIT OF AIRCRAFTS
277. SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been
directed to make a complete audit of all aircrafts operating in the country and if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether the airlines operating in the country have commenced such audits of their
respective aircrafts and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that there have been incidents where aircraft certified for
airworthiness prior to take-off had to make emergency landings due to technical snags and if
so, the details thereof;
(d) the authority responsible for certifying the airworthiness of aircraft; and
(e) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for the robustness of the
existing inspection systems?
ANSWER
Minister of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
******STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN
RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 277 FOR REPLY
ON 07.08.2025 REGARDING "AUDIT OF AIRCRAFTS" BY "SHRI
SELVAGANAPATHI T. M.";; ; (a) to (e) Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) has a structured surveillance and audit framework in place for safety
oversight function i.e. planned and unplanned surveillance of Organisation
/aircrafts, which includes regular and periodic audits, spot checks, night
Surveillance and ramp inspections across all operators, including continuous
oversight of maintenance practices. In case there is a violation, DGCA takes
enforcement action as per its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.; Post-
accident of Air India flight AI-171 Boeing 787 aircraft on 12.06.2025, DGCA
has ordered to conduct the checks/inspections of all 33 787-Dreamliner aircraft
of Air India. Out of total 33 aircraft, 31 operational aircraft have been inspected
wherein minor findings were observed in 8 aircraft. These aircraft have been
released for operation post rectification. The remaining 2 aircraft are under
scheduled maintenance.; ; Further, DGCA has issued General Safety Circular
01/2025 on 19 June 2025, which deals with comprehensive special audit to
assess aviation ecosystem and strengthen aviation safety architecture.; ; For the
year 2025 (till date), 02 emergency landings due to technical have been
reported. The details are as under: Air India Express 01 Indigo 01 In
addition to above, on 12.06.2025, M/s Air India aircraft VT-ANB declared
MAYDAY (emergency) and eventually met with an accident. DGCA has laid
down Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) for issue of Certificate of
Airworthiness and Airworthiness Review Certificate. Both these certificates are
issued by DGCA. Keeping the aircraft in a continuous state of airworthiness is
the responsibility of operator. Subsequently, DGCA also checks the aircraft
maintenance records to ensure the airworthiness of aircraft.
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