DGCA Directs Inspection Teams to Undertake Short Duration On-Spot Inspections at Airports
During inspection of safety management systems and ground handling operations, the teams will see if the airports and airlines have Safety Management Systems (SMS) and the staff can identify hazards and carry out mitigation measures.
New Delhi: Extending its order to carry out spot checks of only IndiGo operations at 11 airports, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has now tasked its inspection teams across the country to additionally undertake short duration on-spot inspections at the airports while going for scheduled inspections. The DGCA has said that this step is being taken in view of the need to strengthen regulatory oversight and passenger facilitation during ongoing operational challenges at airports.
The move is a direct fallout of recent IndiGo fiasco and the public outrage due to massive inconvenience The purpose of these inspections is to assess airport facilities relevant to applicable Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), including safety, operational preparedness, passenger amenities, and compliance with maintenance and licensing standards, the DGCA order said.
DGCA teams conduct scheduled airport inspection for regular, systematic checks of an airport's physical infrastructure like runways, taxiways, lighting, signs etc; airside operations (ATC, emergency services), safety protocols, access control, baggage screening; ensure regulatory compliance; operational efficiency, and passenger safety. These are conducted either daily or periodically by a designated team.
The new order applies to all DGCA inspection teams constituted under various directorates and the teams conducting routine inspections will also be utilised for supplementary airport facility checks. The inspection teams have been told to remain for at least one hour at the designated airports and assess airport facilities relevant to CARs, including licensing and operational preparedness of the personnel, safety management and ground handling operations. They also need to check passenger amenities, security coordination, emergency preparedness and air transport operations.
During the assessment of airport facilities, the inspection teams have been told to conduct verification of pilots, engineers, and ATC licenses. They will also check adequacy of duty rosters and fatigue management systems and availability of qualified staff during the inspection hours. During inspection of safety management systems and ground handling operations, the teams will see if the airports and airlines have Safety Management Systems (SMS) and the staff can identify hazards and carry out mitigation measures and coordinate with airport operators and the DGCA for incident reporting.
With regard to passenger amenities, the teams will need to keep a check on flight delays and cancellations and the way it is handled by the airline, on congestion at airports, availability of airline and airport manpower, round-the-clock manning of help desks, grievance handling by airlines at airports, availability of senior managers at airports, toilet cleanliness and hygiene measures. The teams also need to interact with passengers at the airport for their feedback.
“The inspection teams will carry out on the spot instructions to airport operators and stakeholders for rectification of observed deficiencies. Such instructions have to be documented in the inspection report and communicated to the Deputy Directorate General of the concerned Region and Director, Security and Enforcement Division (SED) within 24 hours. Later, consolidated monthly reports will have been prepared for review at Joint Director General level and forwarded to the Surveillance and Enforcement Division,” the order says.
The DGCA order added that non-compliance with CARs observed during these inspections shall attract enforcement action. Airport operators have been directed to extend full cooperation to DGCA inspection teams.
