Parliament Question: Safety Audit of Aircraft Operations

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 822 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 23rd July 2026 ) SAFETY AUDIT OF AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS 822. SHRI SHYAMKUMAR DAULAT BARVE Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) whether the Government has conducted a comprehensive safety audit regarding the operational risks posed to passengers and flight crew during aircraft operations at short-length and table-top runways in the country and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of the specific vulnerabilities identified at such airports along with the total number of such short-length runways currently operational in the country; and (c) the details of the preventive measures, advanced technological installations and infrastructure expansion plans being implemented by the Government to mitigate such risks and ensure maximum safety? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) to (c): Safety audits are carried out during Main Base Inspection and Station Facility Inspection as per Annual Surveillance Plan for all operators. Periodic assessment related to Runway such as Pavement Inspection, Friction Testing, Rubber Removal, Pavement marking and lighting checks, Runway Condition Reporting (RCR) etc. are conducted at Airports Authority of India (AAI) Airports as per DGCA CAR regulations. Aerodrome operators are required to implement a Safety Management System (SMS), maintain Runway End Safety Areas (RESA), obstacle limitation surfaces, rescue and firefighting services (ARFF), aeronautical ground lighting, visual aids and emergency response plans in accordance with the applicable CARs.The following aerodromes are mandatorily classified as Category C requiring enhanced operational competence: Calicut, Kullu, Leh, Lengpui, Mangalore, Pakyong, Shimla and Thoise. Further, DGCA has prescribed special operational requirements for operations at Cat C aerodromes through Operations Circular No. 02 of 2012 Rev 3 regarding Route and Aerodrome Competence Qualification, read with CAR Section 8, Series O, Part II and Part VII. The Circular requires operators to undertake safety risk assessments, classify aerodromes based on operational complexity, and prescribe minimum experience, training, assessment and qualification requirements for flight crew operating to such aerodromes. ******