Lok Sabha Question No. 493 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-25
Subject: Technical fault in Flights
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Sukhdeo Bhagat, Ms. S Jothimani, Shri K Sudhakaran, Shri Anto Antony, Adv. Adoor Prakash, Dr. Mohammad Jawed, Shri Benny Behanan, Km. Sudha R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 493 (To be answered on the 25 th  July 2024)

## TECHNICAL FAULT IN FLIGHTS

## 493. SHRI SUKHDEO BHAGAT

MS. S  JOTHIMANI

SHRI K SUDHAKARAN

SHRI ANTO ANTONY

ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH

DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN

KM. SUDHA R

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has noticed an increase in cases of technical faults in flights and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the measures taken by the Government to reduce such technical faults;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to investigate the frequent delays and cancellations of flights in the country;
- (d) the details of the justification for high flight ticket prices in the country; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to control high flight ticket prices, if so the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (c): During aircraft operations, technical snags may be experienced.The technical snags/occurrence are reported by the flight crew on receiving an aural/ visual warning in the cockpit or an indication of an inoperative/ faulty system or while experiencing difficulty in handling/ operating the aircraft.

The snags/ malfunctions are required to be rectified by a duly qualified and type-rated Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) in accordance with the procedure provided in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM)/ Trouble Shooting Manual before the aircraft can be released for further operations. DGCA ensures that the airline and the maintenance organisation continues to comply with the regulatory requirements against which they have initially been approved through a system of surveillance, audits, spot checks, night surveillance etc. In case of non-compliances, DGCA ensures that the airlines/ maintenance organisation take necessary corrective action.  In  case  of violations, DGCA may initiate enforcement actions against the airline/ organisation/  personnel  which  may  include  warning,  suspension  or cancellation of approval/ certificate/ licence including imposition of financial penalty. In order to ensure appropriate protection of air traveller in case of flight disruption and in particular, flight cancellation and delays without due notice to the passengers booked on the flight, DGCA has issued Civil Aviation requirement (CAR), Section-3 Air Transport, Series M, Part-IV on "Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights". (d) and (e): With the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the process of airfare approval by Government has been dispensed with. Under the provision of Sub Rule (1) of Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, every air transport undertaking engaged in scheduled air services require to establish tariff  having regard to all relevant factors, including cost of operation, characteristic of services, reasonable profit and the generally prevailing tariff. Airlines  are  free  to  charge  reasonable  air  fares  as  per  their  operation viabilities  subject  to  compliance  to  above  said  rule. As per prevailing regulation, airfares are neither established nor regulated by the Government. The airfares across various countries are dynamic in nature and follow the principle of demand & supply. The fares are also dependent on a number of other factors such as the number of seats already sold on a particular flight, prevailing fuel price, the capacity of the aircraft operating on the route, the competitive strengths, etc.

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