Amanze ChinonyeIndia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a comprehensive audit of Air India’s main base in Gurugram as part of its routine annual surveillance programme.
While this inspection was pre-scheduled, it comes in the wake of heightened scrutiny following the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad on 12 June.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe crash, which resulted in the deaths of 241 passengers and over 30 people on the ground, has intensified concerns over operational safety across India’s aviation sector. A senior DGCA official confirmed that while the Gurugram audit was not prompted by the incident, the tragedy has underscored the urgency of ensuring compliance at all levels. “This review is part of the annual plan,” the official stated, “but naturally, the crash has focused attention on safety compliance across all areas of airline operations.”
As part of its response, the DGCA has rolled out a revamped auditing framework aimed at closing systemic gaps in airline oversight. Historically, aviation audits in India were compartmentalized—focusing separately on areas like airworthiness or crew training. The new model aims to adopt an integrated, system-wide approach.
Under the revised framework, audits will assess three key dimensions: the effectiveness of an airline’s Safety Management System (SMS), the reliability of daily operations, and overall regulatory compliance. “This marks a paradigm shift,” the regulator said in a public statement, noting that the agency now intends to assess the aviation ecosystem as a whole rather than in isolated parts.
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DGCA audit teams will now include multidisciplinary experts in areas such as engineering, training, flight operations, and air navigation, aiming to enhance the depth and breadth of each review. These audits will extend beyond airlines to include airports, aircraft maintenance firms, and pilot training institutions. Furthermore, the DGCA indicated that serious incidents, persistent violations, or evidence of non-compliance could prompt unscheduled inspections.
Operational Adjustments at Air India
In response to the growing regulatory scrutiny, Air India announced on Sunday that it will temporarily reduce flight operations. The airline will cut 118 weekly flights across 19 routes and suspend service entirely on three others, citing a need to prioritize aircraft maintenance and reinforce safety protocols.
With this intensified oversight, the DGCA is seeking to bolster public confidence in aviation safety and ensure that India’s civil aviation sector adheres to the highest operational standards.
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