The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) initiated a special audit of airlines. According to a PTI report, the spot checks by DGCA revealed that the engineering personnel is insufficient and unqualified. The airlines are allowing them to certify planes before departure.
The two-month-long special audit will focus on the availability of an adequate, appropriately qualified and skilled workforce. The development came into being after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation conducted several spot checks in July. It also reported several instances in India where airlines diverted their flights due to safety and operational issues.
On July 18, the DGCA advised that they will release the aircraft at base and transit stations only when the staff has a certificate of holding the licence with appropriate authorisation.
According to an ANI report, DGCA identified a defect in the trends of MEL (minimum equipment lists) releases and multiple other factors. According to the DGCA, airlines are turning to Category A certifying staff at transit stations which is non-aligned with the incumbent regulatory provisions. The Civil Aviation Supreme had decided that all aircraft at the base and transit stations must have a certificate for the staff. It must be an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) Category B1/B2 licence with appropriate authorisation by their organisation.
The DGCA has asked the airlines to act on the notification by July 28, 2022.
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