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Times of Oman
17 hours ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
DGCA launches comprehensive special audit to strengthen India's aviation safety
New Delhi: In a significant move to enhance India's aviation safety framework, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a comprehensive special audit initiative under General Safety Circular 01 of 2025, announcing the rollout of a Comprehensive Special Audit initiative aimed at providing a 360-degree assessment of the nation's aviation ecosystem. The initiative reflects a strategic shift from the conventional silo-based oversight system to an integrated, risk-informed, performance-driven model of regulatory auditing & DGCA's commitment to fostering a safe, efficient, and sustainable aviation environment. By integrating global best practices--including those from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), and India's National Aviation Safety Plan--the audits will assess compliance, operational performance, and system resilience across all facets of the aviation industry. This audit will proactively identify systemic vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience across India's aviation sector. Unlike routine checks, the special audits will apply to a broad spectrum of stakeholders, ranging from scheduled and private air operators to maintenance firms, training institutions, air navigation providers, and ground handlers. Even supporting elements such as emergency systems and technology vendors fall within its scope, underlining DGCA's ambition for a truly end-to-end evaluation. The document reads, 'The Special Audit applies to all primary aviation entities, including scheduled, non-scheduled, and private air operators, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organisations, Approved Training Organisations (ATOs), Flying Training Organisations (FTOs), Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), Aerodrome Operators, and Ground Handling Agencies (GHAs). Additionally, it encompasses supporting elements such as technology providers, emergency response systems, supply chain networks, and regulatory coordination bodies. This broad scope ensures a holistic evaluation of the interconnected components that define the aviation ecosystem. Audits will be carried out by multidisciplinary teams led by senior DGCA officials and supported by subject-matter experts from various aviation domains. The assessment will include document reviews, on-site inspections, staff interviews, and analysis of safety data trends. Findings will be classified by severity, with deadlines for corrective action ranging from 7 to 90 days. Entities will be required to submit a corrective action plan within 15 days of the audit's conclusion, and failure to comply could lead to escalating enforcement, from warnings and fines to suspension of licenses. The audit process is divided into three phases. The Pre-Audit Phase (5-7 days) involves intelligence gathering, stakeholder consultation, risk profiling, and audit plan development. The On-Site Audit Phase (3-5 days) includes an opening meeting to clarify objectives, followed by document reviews, inspections, interviews, process observations, and daily debriefs to discuss preliminary findings. The Post-Audit Phase (10-15 days) encompasses finding validation, risk assessment, final report preparation, and publication. This structured process ensures transparency and stakeholder engagement throughout, as mentioned in the document. The audits may be triggered by critical incidents, regulatory violations, or international findings, but they will also be scheduled proactively, including annual ecosystem-wide reviews. The DGCA has committed to transparency, confidentiality, and due process throughout the audit lifecycle, including provisions for appeal. With this new framework now in immediate effect, DGCA aims not only to meet international standards but to set them.
India Gazette
18 hours ago
- Business
- India Gazette
DGCA launches comprehensive special audit to strengthen India's aviation safety
New Delhi [India], June 22 (ANI): In a significant move to enhance India's aviation safety framework, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a comprehensive special audit initiative under General Safety Circular 01 of 2025, announcing the rollout of a Comprehensive Special Audit initiative aimed at providing a 360-degree assessment of the nation's aviation ecosystem. The initiative reflects a strategic shift from the conventional silo-based oversight system to an integrated, risk-informed, performance-driven model of regulatory auditing & DGCA's commitment to fostering a safe, efficient, and sustainable aviation environment. By integrating global best practices--including those from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), and India's National Aviation Safety Plan--the audits will assess compliance, operational performance, and system resilience across all facets of the aviation industry. This audit will proactively identify systemic vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience across India's aviation sector. Unlike routine checks, the special audits will apply to a broad spectrum of stakeholders, ranging from scheduled and private air operators to maintenance firms, training institutions, air navigation providers, and ground handlers. Even supporting elements such as emergency systems and technology vendors fall within its scope, underlining DGCA's ambition for a truly end-to-end evaluation. The document reads, 'The Special Audit applies to all primary aviation entities, including scheduled, non-scheduled, and private air operators, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organisations, Approved Training Organisations (ATOs), Flying Training Organisations (FTOs), Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), Aerodrome Operators, and Ground Handling Agencies (GHAs). Additionally, it encompasses supporting elements such as technology providers, emergency response systems, supply chain networks, and regulatory coordination bodies. This broad scope ensures a holistic evaluation of the interconnected components that define the aviation ecosystem. Audits will be carried out by multidisciplinary teams led by senior DGCA officials and supported by subject-matter experts from various aviation domains. The assessment will include document reviews, on-site inspections, staff interviews, and analysis of safety data trends. Findings will be classified by severity, with deadlines for corrective action ranging from 7 to 90 days. Entities will be required to submit a corrective action plan within 15 days of the audit's conclusion, and failure to comply could lead to escalating enforcement, from warnings and fines to suspension of licenses. The audit process is divided into three phases. The Pre-Audit Phase (5-7 days) involves intelligence gathering, stakeholder consultation, risk profiling, and audit plan development. The On-Site Audit Phase (3-5 days) includes an opening meeting to clarify objectives, followed by document reviews, inspections, interviews, process observations, and daily debriefs to discuss preliminary findings. The Post-Audit Phase (10-15 days) encompasses finding validation, risk assessment, final report preparation, and publication. This structured process ensures transparency and stakeholder engagement throughout, as mentioned in the document. The audits may be triggered by critical incidents, regulatory violations, or international findings, but they will also be scheduled proactively, including annual ecosystem-wide reviews. The DGCA has committed to transparency, confidentiality, and due process throughout the audit lifecycle, including provisions for appeal. With this new framework now in immediate effect, DGCA aims not only to meet international standards but to set them. The agency sees this initiative as central to building a world-class aviation infrastructure that is resilient, accountable, and future-ready. (ANI)
Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
On airworthiness: UN's ICAO rated India above global average, US aviation regulator gave Category 1 status
India was rated well above the global average in terms of its operations and airworthiness by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) when the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was last audited in November 2022, with the overall Effective Implementation score being raised to 85.65 per cent from 69.95 per cent in 2018, indicating an improvement in the country's aviation safety ranking. The Effective Implementation score of the ICAO, an agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating and establishing standards for civil aviation globally, includes various categories such as legislation, organisation, licensing, operations, airworthiness, accident investigation, air navigation services, and aerodromes. As per the last audit, India scored higher than the global average in each of the eight categories that are covered under ICAO's Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). The assessment of major agencies assumes importance as investigations begin into the crash of Air India's AI-171 on Thursday in Ahmedabad that led to the death of 241 persons aboard the plan in what is the deadliest aviation accident in more than a decade. The accident also led to casualties on the ground as the plane crashed into a medical college building in the vicinity of the Ahmedabad airport. India scored particularly higher than the global average by the ICAO when it came to operations, with the global average at 72.28 per cent and India at 94.02 per cent. This was even higher than the likes of the US (86.51 per cent) and China (90 per cent), as per their 2024 audits. India also scored higher than the US and China in terms of airworthiness: 97.06 per cent versus 89.13 per cent and 94.83 per cent, respectively. To be sure, the agency has different auditing schedules for different countries, and while India's last audit was in 2022, the audits for US and China were conducted in 2024. India is the third-largest domestic aviation market after the US and China, and is also the fastest-growing major aviation market globally. Later, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—the foremost aviation regulator globally—retained India's International Aviation Safety Assessment category as Category 1. As per the FAA's assessment programme, the DGCA was audited in October 2021 in the areas of aircraft operations, airworthiness, and personnel licensing. 'Based on the positive outcomes of the assessment and follow-ups, the FAA informed DGCA on 12th April 2023 that India meets the international standards for aviation safety oversight of the Chicago Convention & its Annexes and continues to retain FAA IASA Category 1 status which was the last assessed in July 2018. The FAA has appreciated the DGCA stating that DGCA has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring the effective safety oversight of India's aviation system,' the Ministry of Civil Aviation had said in April 2023. A Category 1 status with the FAA allows air carriers of that country to operate and expand their services to destinations in the US and codeshare with American air carriers. The probe into the Air India plane crash is being undertaken by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, with the investigation to be done in line with protocols set by the ICAO. Aiding the process will be the US National Transportation Safety Board on account of the aircraft that came down being made by American firm Boeing. The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch will also have expert status in the safety investigation on account of the British citizens being on board the aircraft. In addition to these national agencies, Boeing and aircraft engine manufacturer GE are also expected to help in the investigation and provide information about the aircraft as required by the ICAO's protocols. Siddharth Upasani is a Deputy Associate Editor with The Indian Express. He reports primarily on data and the economy, looking for trends and changes in the former which paint a picture of the latter. Before The Indian Express, he worked at Moneycontrol and financial newswire Informist (previously called Cogencis). Outside of work, sports, fantasy football, and graphic novels keep him busy. ... Read More
