The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Air India for allegedly allowing one of its pilots to operate a flight without meeting crucial regulatory requirements. The penalty was announced in a DGCA order issued on January 29, 2025, following an investigation into the airline’s compliance with aviation safety norms.
According to the DGCA, the airline violated regulations by allowing the pilot to operate a flight on July 7, 2024, despite the individual not meeting the mandatory recency requirement of having completed three take-offs and landings within the last 90 days. This non-compliance led to a violation of Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) para 3, which mandates pilots to maintain certain flight experience for safety reasons.
In addition to this specific violation, the DGCA’s order highlighted “recurrent rostering issues” at Air India, indicating potential ongoing concerns with the airline’s internal operations. The penalty followed an unsatisfactory response from the airline to a show-cause notice sent on December 13, 2024, to Air India’s head of operations, head of rostering, and other relevant executives.
The DGCA’s actions reflect its commitment to maintaining high standards of aviation safety and ensuring compliance with all regulations. Air India, which is owned by the Tata Group, has yet to respond to PTI’s query regarding the penalty and the findings outlined by the DGCA.
This fine serves as a reminder of the critical importance of adhering to regulatory guidelines in the aviation industry, particularly in areas related to pilot certification and flight safety.