DGCA Launches Special Safety Audit for Flying Training Organisations

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has commenced a detailed Special Safety Audit of all Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) across India. Scheduled from September to November 2024, the audit aims to evaluate safety standards and operational protocols following recent aircraft incidents.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has embarked on an extensive Special Safety Audit of all Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) in India, starting Thursday. This audit aims to rigorously examine safety standards, operational procedures, and systemic deficiencies to ensure maximum safety and regulatory compliance within flying training institutions.

The audit is segmented into three phases and will span from September to November 2024, covering 33 FTOs in total. The initial phase will evaluate 11 FTOs in September 2024. This initiative comes in the wake of several recent training aircraft incidents that have raised concerns about the adherence of training organisations to aviation regulations and safety protocols. The last such audit was conducted in 2022.

The special audit will meticulously scrutinize each FTO's compliance with DGCA regulatory standards, including aspects like aircraft maintenance, airworthiness, and training operations. The focus will cover various components of FTO operations such as training curricula, the quality of flying instruction provided to student pilots, and the supervisory mechanisms to ensure trainees meet proficiency standards required for independent flying certification.

Additionally, the audit will examine operational oversight and maintenance protocols of the training aircraft to ensure they meet the highest safety standards with no compromises. The aim is to implement corrective measures wherever necessary, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of flight training in India.

This audit follows an incident on August 20, wherein a training aircraft went missing in Jamshedpur after departing from Sonari airport. Subsequent search operations were launched in the Saraikela district, and the neighboring district of Purulia in West Bengal was also alerted. Search operations commenced immediately by the Jamshedpur administration.

(With inputs from agencies.)