Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) safety audit activities in accordance with international civil aviation norms. It details inspections conducted over the past two years and the current year (up to April 2025) at various airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, and Hyderabad. The document also outlines compliance issues found, enforcement actions taken, and measures for improving airworthiness and pilot training.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Regulatory Framework:**
* DGCA maintains comprehensive civil aviation regulations for safe aircraft operation and maintenance, aligned with ICAO and EASA standards.
* A structured surveillance and audit framework is in place, including regular audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections.
* Enforcement actions are taken based on the DGCA's Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual for any violations.
* **Safety Audit Details:**
* DGCA conducted comprehensive safety audits at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, and Hyderabad airports, covering scheduled airlines.
* The audits covered areas such as:
* Aircraft Maintenance and Airworthiness
* Ramp Inspection
* Breath Analyser Test
* Ground Handling
* Air Traffic Management and Cabin Communication, Navigation and Surveillance CNS Air Navigation Services Standards ANSS
* Cabin Safety
* Aerodrome and Airside Operations
* State GovtCivil Aviation Directorate CAD
* **Inspection Statistics (2023-2025):**
* 2023: 5745 inspections; 542 enforcement actions
* 2024: 6009 inspections; 673 enforcement actions
* 2025 (Till April): 1999 inspections; 254 enforcement actions
* **Pilot Training:**
* Pilot training adheres to Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) and operations circulars, aligning with ICAO standards and global best practices.
Impact Analysis:
* **Airline Companies:**
* *Impact:* Subject to safety inspections and potential enforcement actions for non-compliance with international civil aviation norms.
* *Action Required:* Address findings recorded during inspections and take necessary corrective actions to adhere to DGCA regulations and international standards.
* **Airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, Hyderabad):**
* *Impact:* Subject to comprehensive safety audits by DGCA.
* *Action Required:* Facilitate the DGCA inspections and address any identified non-compliance issues.
* **Pilots:**
* *Impact:* Must adhere to pilot training regulations as specified under CARs and operations circulars.
* *Action Required:* Comply with pilot training requirements and maintain proficiency in line with ICAO standards and global best practices.
* **DGCA:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for conducting safety inspections, enforcing regulations, and ensuring alignment with international standards.
* *Action Required:* Continuously update and align regulations with ICAO and EASA standards, conduct regular inspections, and take enforcement actions as necessary.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The civil aviation authority responsible for regulation of air transport services and enforcement of safety regulations in India.
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO): A specialized agency of the United Nations that codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safety and orderly growth.
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA): An agency of the European Union (EU) with responsibility for civil aviation safety.
Delhi: One of the airports where DGCA conducted a comprehensive safety audit.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: One of the airports where DGCA conducted a comprehensive safety audit.
Kolkata, West Bengal: One of the airports where DGCA conducted a comprehensive safety audit.
Patna, Bihar: One of the airports where DGCA conducted a comprehensive safety audit.
Hyderabad, Telangana: One of the airports where DGCA conducted a comprehensive safety audit.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 705
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
DGCA SAFETY AUDIT
705. SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMABHAJIRAO MANE
SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO
SMT JUNE MALIAH
MR PATHAN YUSUF
SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA
SHRI MANISH JAISWAL
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has
conducted any safety inspections as per the conventions of
international civil aviation norms recently across various airports in
the country;
(b) if so, the details of such inspections carried out during the last
two years and the current year and the findings thereof, year-wise;
(c) whether the DGCA has found any compliance issues by some
airline companies during the said safety inspections and if so, the
details thereof along with the names of such airline companies;
(d) whether the Government has issued any directives to such
airline companies which are not adhering to the conventions of
international civil aviation norms;
(e) if so, the details thereof, airline company-wise along with the
response of the said airline companies in this regard; and
(f) the other measures being taken to improve airworthiness, pilot
training and compliance of guidelines by airlines?ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (f): Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has a
comprehensive and structured civil aviation regulations for safe
operation of aircraft and its maintenance. These regulations are
continuously updated and aligned with the International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO)/European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) standards.
;
DGCA also has a structured surveillance and audit framework in
place i.e. planned and unplanned surveillance of organization
/aircraft, 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.;
;
DGCA conducted comprehensive safety audit recently at five
airports i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna and Hyderabad.
Scheduled Airlines were also covered during these inspections.;
;
Following areas were covered during these inspections:-;
1. Aircraft Maintenance and Airworthiness;
2. Ramp Inspection;
3. Breath Analyser Test;
4. Ground Handling;
5. Air Traffic Management and Cabin Communication, Navigation
and Surveillance (CNS) (Air Navigation Services Standards - ANSS);
6. Cabin Safety;
7. Aerodrome and Airside Operations;
8. State Govt-Civil Aviation Directorate (CAD);
;
Details of inspection carried out during the last two years and the
current year including Ramp, Safety Oversight of Foreign Airlines
(SOFA), Spot Checks and Night Checks, are as follows:-;Year; No of Inspections; Enforcement ;
Action;
2023; 5745; 542;
2024; 6009; 673;
2025 ; 1999 254;
(Till April);
;
Findings recorded during these inspections were forwarded to the
concerned organisations for taking necessary corrective actions.;
;
Pilot training is as per extant regulations as specified under various
Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) and Operations circulars which
are inline with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
and global best practices.
******