The Mangalore air tragedy leaves one big question unanswered — how safe is flying in India? While a few may dismiss the notion, saying aircrashes are a worldwide phenomenon, in reality, the Indian aviation sector faces turbulent weather. While the world over, the management of civil aviation is classified and functions autono-
mously under different heads such as safety audits, operations, regulations and so on, in India, the directorate general of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the last word on the subject.
In 2006, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), an arm of the United Nations looking into safety globally was extremely critical of the standard operation procedures (SOPs), listing India as the worst on "technical personnel qualification and training’’.
The ICAO after-safety audit had issued 70 key recommendations for operating civilian aircraft in India in October 2006 under its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). The report was an indictment of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. To date, 16 recommendations are yet to be implemented. The DGCA’s commitment to safety is reflected in its admission in 2008 that India has only three inspectors for 10 commercial airlines and 600 planes. Sources in the ministry of civil aviation say the DGCA unwillingness to comply with the remaining findings is dangerous. “Air navigation services, aerodromes, procurement of accident investigation and aerodrome kits, licensing of aerodromes and enhancement of manpower are some of the areas that need serious attention. While there has been a major overhaul of the aviation sector in the recent past, reforms still need a major thrust on the safety aspects,’’ said a senior official in the ministry.
“To meet international safety obligations, the DGCA has carried out a corrective action plan according to which the government has approved revival of 132 lapsed technical positions and approved creation of 427 technical positions. Efforts are also being made by DGCA to obtain approval for ad-hoc appointment of flight operations inspectors pending regular recruitment. The DGCA is also thinking of hiring consultants on 72 technical positions on short-term contract till regular recruitment is done. But the irony is that even after four years of recommendations from the ICAO all these still remain on paper,” he said.
While the DGCA claims that it is working to comply with the remaining 16 findings, of which four findings relate to Airports Authority of India (AAI), a commitment for compliance was given by the authority for December 2009 which it has unfortunately not yet fulfilled.