Lok Sabha Question No. 162 (STARRED), answered on 2022-07-28
Subject: Non-Adherence to Safety Standards by Airlines
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Ravi Kishan Shukla, Ravindra Kushawaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

## STARRED QUESTION NO. : 162

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  28th July 2022 )

## NON-ADHERENCE TO SAFETY STANDARDS BY AIRLINES

162.    SHRI RAVI KISHAN

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether safety standards are not being followed by some airline companies in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  this  has  led  to  emergency  landing  of  some  aircraft recently and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the action taken so far by the Government/ Directorate General of Civil Aviation in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION      (Shri Jyotiraditya M&#46;

Scindia)

(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

******

Statement referred in reply to Part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred  Question  No.  162  regarding  "Non-adherence  to Safety Standards by Airlines" to be answered on 28.07.2022 ;

- (a)  All  the  airline  companies  operate  in  accordance  with the Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements. These requirements are consistent with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standard and Recommended Practices  as  contained  in  various  Annex  to  the  ICAO Chicago Convention. The compliance of the Civil Aviation Requirements, conditions of issue of Licence/Approval/Air

Operator  Certificate/Air  Operator  Permit  is  assessed  by Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA)  through  a systematic safety oversight process. The safety oversight process includes surveillances, spot check and regulatory audits embodied in Annual Surveillance Programme.

- (b)  During  the  last  three  months  including  the  current month, due to system malfunction there were four incidents wherein the operating crew declared emergency. The details is given at Annexure;
- (c) Post incident appropriate maintenance action is carried out in accordance with the approved maintenance programme  to  isolate  the  defect  and  rectify  it.  These occurrences are thoroughly analyzed and severity is determined.  Based  on  severity,  these  occurrences  are investigated. Appropriate action is taken on the outcome of  investigation.  The  action  taken  by  the  DGCA,  safety regulator in respect of the incidents referred to in reply to part  (b)  of  the  question  is  given  in  the  Annexure  against each incident. DGCA as safety oversight function, follows up with the concerned operator for compliance in respect of  findings  of  audits,  surveillances  &  inspections.  The observations are closed after due verification. Further the compliance of the action taken by the operator is verified during the next audit/surveillance. In case of any violations/ non-compliance to regulations detected during audit/surveillance,  enforcement  action  is  imposed  by  the DGCA.  During the ongoing inspection/investigation by DGCA in  the  month  of  July,  2022,  12  aircraft  have  been grounded for various technical discrepancies.

Annexure

## During the period from 01.04.2022 to till date, the operating crew has declared 'Emergency' (MAYDAY) in following four cases:

|   S. No. | Date        | Airport / Place of occurrence   | Operator   | Aircraft Type   | Call Sign   | Flight Number               | Brief Description                                                                                                                                                     | Action                                                                                                                                                         |
|----------|-------------|---------------------------------|------------|-----------------|-------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | 4- Apr- 22  | Nagpur                          | Indigo     | ATR72           | VT- IYW     | 6E-7074 Nagpur - Lucknow    | Air turn back due to burning smell and white fumes in cabin reported by the cabin crew. There was no system generated warning. Crew carried out the checklist action. | During rectification no sign of burning and smell was observed. Aircraft released for further flight.                                                          |
|        2 | 2- Jun- 22  | Hyderabad                       | Indigo     | ATR72           | VT- IYM     | 6E-7915 Hyderabad - Chennai | Air turn back due cabin pressurization issue.                                                                                                                         | During rectification ambient pressure sensor was found faulty and replaced.Aircraft released for further flight.                                               |
|        3 | 2- Jul- 22  | Delhi                           | Spicejet   | Q400            | VT- SUR     | SG-2962 Delhi - Jabalpur    | Aircraft returned back to Delhi due to smoke in cabin.                                                                                                                | Due to oil leakage detected, No. 1 engine has been replaced. Aircraft released for further flight.                                                             |
|        4 | 16- Jul- 22 | Muscat                          | AIXL       | B737- 800       | VT- AXX     | IX-355 Calicut- Dubai       | Aircraft diverted to Muscat as burning smell came from forward galley.                                                                                                | During rectification no fumes or smoke was observed. As a precautionary measure Oven in the forward galley was replaced. Aircraft released for further flight. |