**Summary:**
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Shri Murlidhar Mohol, to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2046, concerning the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) safety audit report. The response addresses concerns raised by MR Pathan Yusuf regarding repeated defects in aircraft maintenance, discrepancies in flight simulator configurations, and regulatory mechanisms for simulator software updates and training compliance.
Regarding aircraft maintenance, the DGCA has a structured surveillance and audit framework that includes planned and unplanned surveillance of aircraft, regular and periodic audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections across all operators, ensuring continuous oversight of maintenance practices. A comprehensive safety audit was recently conducted at five airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, and Hyderabad, also covering airlines. The audits encompassed Aircraft Maintenance and Airworthiness, Ramp Inspection, Breath Analyser Tests, Ground Handling, Air Traffic Management and Cabin Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) Air Navigation Services Standards (ANSS), Cabin Safety, Aerodrome and Airside Operations, and State Government Civil Aviation Directorate (CAD). Findings were communicated to the relevant organizations for corrective action.
Concerning flight simulators, simulator software upgrades are implemented as prescribed by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The software for B 787-8 simulators is aligned with the aircraft configuration according to OEM standards. The response clarifies that simulators utilize synthetic data to replicate aircraft handling and do not contain actual parts, thus ensuring no impact on crew training. Simulator evaluations are conducted annually and are also verified by the operator.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The civil aviation authority responsible for regulation of air transport services, air safety and airworthiness standards in India. The DGCA conducts safety audits and surveillance.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The government ministry responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for the development and regulation of the civil aviation sector in India.
Delhi Airport: One of the major airports in India where DGCA conducted a comprehensive safety audit.
Mumbai Airport: One of the major airports in India where DGCA conducted a comprehensive safety audit.
Kolkata Airport: One of the major airports in India where DGCA conducted a comprehensive safety audit.
Patna Airport, Bihar: One of the airports in India where DGCA conducted a comprehensive safety audit.
Hyderabad Airport, Telangana: One of the major airports in India where DGCA conducted a comprehensive safety audit.
B 7878: Type of aircraft model, for which simulator software is in line with the aircraft configuration as per OEM standards.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2046
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 31st July 2025 )
DGCA SAFETY AUDIT REPORT
2046. MR PATHAN YUSUF
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that several repeated defects in aircraft
maintenance were found during the surveillance in accordance with the
recent DGCA safety audit report of major airports and airlines and if so,
the details thereof;
(b) whether it was also found during surveillance that a flight simulator
was not matching aircraft configuration and was running outdated
software and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon;
and
(c) the details of the regulatory mechanism in place to ensure timely
simulator software updates and training compliance?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri
Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) 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.;
;
DGCA conducted comprehensive safety audit recently at 05 Airports
namely Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna and Hyderabad. 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);
;
Findings recorded during these inspections were forwarded to the
concerned organisations for taking necessary corrective actions.; ;
;
(b) and (c): Simulator software (Load upgrade) is done as prescribed by the
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Software for B 787-8 is in line
with the aircraft configuration as per OEM standards. Simulators do not
have actual parts and data is synthetically provided to match the actual
aircraft handling and therefore has no impact on crew training.;
;
Simulator evaluation is done every year and is also checked by the
operator.
******