Lok Sabha Question No. 2653 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-16
Subject: Air Safety
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2653 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  16th March 2023 )

## AIR SAFETY

## 2653.    SHRI RITESH PANDEY Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  several  incidents  with  regard  to  the issue of air safety were witnessed during the flight operations in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  is  an  increased  trend  of  MEL (Minimum Equipment List) releases, non-availability of required certifying staff at short intervals for multiple  scheduled  arrivals/departures  and  the  same  is regularly witnessed in flight operations and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  made  it  mandatory  that  the  aircraft  parked  at their respective bases and transit stations would be released only on authorisation  by  the  licensed  staff  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  facilitate  better  crowd  management practices across airports which helps the passengers to travel without frequent postponements leading to time saving and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  Yes,  Sir.  The  Government is aware that several incidents with regard to the issue  of  air  safety  were  witnessed  during  the  flight  operations  in  the  country which were attributable to factors including equipment malfunctioning, bird strike etc.  Civil  Aviation  Requirement  (CAR)  Section  5  Series  C  Part  I  issued  by Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA)  requires  occurrences  relating  to system and component failure to be reported to DGCA. These occurrences, based on  their  severity  are  investigated  either  by  the  concerned  airlines  under  the supervision  of  the  DGCA  or  by  the  DGCA  under  Rule  13(1)  of  the  Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017.

;

- (b) Currently, no such increased trends of Minimum Equipment List (MEL) release have been observed.;

All  airlines  are  having  sufficient  certifying  staff/  manpower  arrangement  as required  for  certification  of  aircraft  at  short  intervals  for  multiple  scheduled arrivals/ departures for regular operation of aircraft as per schedule.; ; (c)  Yes  Sir.  DGCA  has  directed  to  airlines  that  all  aircraft  at  base  and  transit stations  shall  be  released  by  certifying  staff  holding  AME  licence  (B1/B2)  with appropriate authorisation by the organisation.

(d) Yes Sir. The action taken by the Government for better crowd management at the airports includes: (i)  Vehicle  Traffic  management  at  cityside  area  by  deployment  of  adequate manpower. (ii) Clear and appropriate signage provided at the airports. (iii)  Optimum  Utilization  of  available  resources  like  chairs  and  manpower  from non-peak areas to peak areas between arrival and departure.; (iv) Q-Managers have been placed for organized passenger processing. (v) Airlines have been advised to deploy additional manpower at Common Use Self Service (CUSS) kiosks and Check-in area for fast processing. (vi)  Airlines  have  been  informed  to  advise  passengers  to  keep  ready  electronic boarding card along with ID proof at entry gates. (vii)  Flight  Schedule  has been adjusted at airports to manage congestion during peak hours. (viii) Additional X-BIS machines has been provided as per requirement at airports to reduce congestion. (ix) MHA has been requested to provide adequate CISF manpower to man X-BIS, entry gates etc.

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