Latest news with #ARMS
Mint
6 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Ahmedabad plane crash: DGCA asks Air India for details of inspections, audits since 2024, says report
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought flight operations inspectors to provide details of all inspections and audits conducted for Air India since 2024, sources said on Saturday. The details on the findings of the inspections and audits will have to be submitted by Sunday, they said, news agency PTI reported. The DGCA has sought these details for 2024 and 2025 (to date), in an email communication which came a day after the aviation safety regulator issued a show-cause notice to the airline for flight duty time limitations (FDTL) violations, the report citing sources said. The DGCA had also ordered removal of the airline's three senior officials from their respective roles for certain lapses. The data has been sought on planned and unplanned inspections, audit, cockpit/enroute, station facility, ramp and cabin inspection among others, as per the communication, the PTI report added. The directives come after an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, killing over 270 people onboard and on the ground. The DGCA ordered Tata Group-owned Air India to remove three senior officials for lapses in crew scheduling and rostering and issued a show-cause notice to the airline for violating FDTL norms, sources said on Saturday. In its order of June 20, the DGCA noted that the three officials, including a divisional vice-president, were involved in "serious and repeated lapses, including unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings, violation of mandatory licensing and recency norms and systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversight". The DGCA directed the airline to initiate proceedings against these three officials without delay, the PTI report said. Air India in a statement said it has acknowledged the regulator's directive and implemented the order. "In the interim, the company's chief operations officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). "Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," the airline said in a statement. ARMS (Air Route Management System) is the software platform used by the airline for various operational and management tasks, including crew rostering and flight planning, among others. A total of 247 victims of the horrific June 12 Ahmedabad plane crash have been identified through DNA tests so far and 232 bodies have been handed over to their families, officials said on Saturday. The authorities have asked the families of eight victims to submit the DNA samples of another relative as the previous ones failed to match, they said. According to the report, police said the matching of DNA samples confirmed that Ahmedabad-based filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala, who was reported missing following the crash, died in the catastrophe. His mortal remains were handed over to his family. Authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims as many bodies were charred beyond recognition as the aircraft burst into flames or damaged on impact.
Mint
11 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Why did DGCA order Air India to remove 3 officials? Explained in 5 points
India's aviation safety watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered Air India to remove three officials from all roles and responsibilities linked to rostering and crew scheduling after finding serious lapses. In an order dated June 20, the DGCA further asked the Tata Group-owned airline to initiate proceedings against these three officials without delay. Air India issued a statement following the order, saying that it had implemented the order of the aviation watchdog. 'In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices,' Air India said. 1. The DGCA's order stated that it had found 'repeated and serious violations' in the scheduling of its crew. 'Repeated and serious violations voluntarily disclosed by Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements.' 2. The aviation watchdog further revealed that it found the violations during its post-transition review from ARMS to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System. Air India uses ARMS (Air Route Management System) software to execute a range of operational and management tasks like crew rostering, flight planning and more. 3. The DGCA in its order said the voluntary disclosures, 'while noted, point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability'. 4. The regulator noted that its 'particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses.' 5. The DGCA flagged that the officials have performed 'serious and repeated lapses including unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings, violation of mandatory licensing and recency norms and systemic failures in scheduling. protocol and oversight.' The aviation safety watchdog's latest order comes at a time when the carrier is facing heightened scrutiny in the aftermath of the June 12 Ahmedabad plane crash that killed 241 out of 242 on board and at least 29 residents of the building it crashed into. Air India also received a warning from the DGCA, which threatened 'strict actions' including licence suspension and operational restrictions if there are violations in crew scheduling in the future. A London-bound Air India flight, AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. All but one on board the plane died along with nearly 29 on the ground when the aircraft smashed into a medical complex shortly after take-off.
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
What Air India said after DGCA directed it to sack its three employees
Air India on Saturday responded to the aviation regulator DGCA's directive, which called for the removal of its three senior employees over 'serious lapses". An Air India Airbus A320-200 aircraft takes off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.(REUTERS file) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had instructed the airline to act promptly against the officials, citing 'serious and repeated violations' in crew scheduling practices. The airline confirmed the move, stating that it has fully complied with the regulator's instructions and issued a statement on the same. Also Read | Air India asked to fire 3 employees over 'recent safety lapses' "We acknowledge the regulator's directive and have implemented the order. In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," an Air India spokesperson said. While the airline did not disclose specific details about the directive, the statement said Air India will remain focused on maintaining strict safety and operational standards. What did the DGCA directive say? The DGCA ordered Tata Group-owned Air India to remove its three officials, including a divisional vice president, from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering over serious lapses. In its order of June 20, the DGCA also directed the airline to initiate proceedings against these three officials without delay. Also Read | DGCA crackdown: Why Air India was told to remove its 3 officials The DGCA order said: "Repeated and serious violations voluntarily disclosed by Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements. "These violations were discovered during the post-transition review from ARMS to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System." ARMS (Air Route Management System) is the software platform used by the airline for various operational and management tasks, including crew rostering and flight planning, among others.
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
DGCA crackdown: Why Air India was told to remove its 3 officials
Jun 21, 2025 02:11 PM IST The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the aviation safety regulator, has ordered Air India to remove its three officials, including a divisional vice president, from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering. Air India planes are parked at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. (PTI file) The DGCA, in its order on June 20, also asked the Tata Group-owned airline to initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against these officials without delay. The three officials include a divisional vice president of the airline, as per the DGCA order. Air India, in a statement, said it has acknowledged the regulator's directive and implemented the order. "In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," the airline said in its statement on Saturday. The latest direction from DGCA has come at a time when the airline has been under strict scrutiny in the aftermath of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash last week. Why DGCA asked Air India to fire 3 officials In its order, the DGCA said 'repeated and serious violations' voluntarily disclosed by Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements. "These violations were discovered during the post-transition review from ARMS to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System," it said. What is ARMS?: ARMS or Air Route Management System is the software platform used by the airline for various operational and management tasks, including crew rostering and flight planning, among others. ARMS or Air Route Management System is the software platform used by the airline for various operational and management tasks, including crew rostering and flight planning, among others. The voluntary disclosures, 'while noted, point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability,' the DGCA order said. The order also flagged that 'particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses'. The DGCA also noted that these officials have been involved in 'serious and repeated lapses' including 'unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings, violation of mandatory licensing and recency norms and systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversight'. Who are Air India officials? The aviation regulator said it has identified three officials as directly accountable: Choorah Singh, divisional vice president; Pinky Mittal, chief manager - in directorate of operations, crew scheduling; and Payal Arora, crew scheduling - planning. Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad A London-bound Air India flight, AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. All but one on board the plane died along with nearly 29 on the ground when the aircraft smashed into a medical complex shortly after take-off.
NDTV
14 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
Aviation Body Orders Removal Of 3 Air India Officials Over Crew Rostering
Mumbai: Aviation safety watchdog DGCA has ordered Tata Group-owned Air India to remove its three officials, including a divisional vice president, from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering over serious lapses. In its order of June 20, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also directed the airline to initiate proceedings against these three officials without delay. Air India, in a statemen,t said it has acknowledged the regulator's directive and implemented the order. "In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," the airline said in its statement on Saturday. The DGCA order said: "Repeated and serious violations voluntarily disclosed by Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements. "These violations were discovered during the post-transition review from ARMS to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System." ARMS (Air Route Management System) is the software platform used by the airline for various operational and management tasks, including crew rostering and flight planning, among others. The voluntary disclosures, "while noted, point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability," the DGCA order said and flagged that "particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses". The regulator noted that these officials have been involved in "serious and repeated lapses including "unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings, violation of mandatory licensing and recency norms and systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversight". The DGCA also warned Air India that future violations in crew scheduling will invite "strict action", including licence suspension and operational restrictions. The latest direction from DGCA has come at a time when the airline has been under strict scrutiny in the aftermath of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash last week. A London-bound Air India flight, AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. All but one on board the plane died along with nearly 29 on the ground when the aircraft smashed into a medical complex shortly after take-off.
