Lok Sabha Question No. 2015 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Aviation Safety Lapses
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Sudama Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2015

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  11th December 2025 )

## AVIATION SAFETY LAPSES

## 2015.    SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  responsibility  for  the  serious  aviation  safety  lapses flagged  in  DGCA?s  surveillance  at  major  airports  including  Delhi  and  Mumbai  involving outdated manuals, operational lapses and poor documentation and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the specific actions taken against airport operators and agencies found noncompliant and the reasons for no suspensions being reported despite repeated violations;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  acknowledges  that  such  systemic  failures  in  enforcing  safety standards expose millions of passengers to daily risk and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether immediate reforms are being undertaken to overhaul aviation safety governance beyond audits in light of chronic understaffing at DGCA and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  time  by  which  the  Government  intends  to  release  the  audit  findings  and  publish  a timeline-bound action taken report?

## ANSWER

## Minister  of  State  in  the  Ministry  of  CIVIL  AVIATION            (Shri  Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) & (b): Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has a robust mechanism at licensed airports  to  ensure  compliance  of  regulatory  requirements  through  surveillance  audits.  To ensure passenger safety and to maintain global aviation safety standards, there is a systematic safety oversight process in place for monitoring the compliance of Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements. The safety oversight process includes surveillances, spot check and regulatory audits. In addition, special audits are also carried out as per the risk perceived.;

;

During the recent surveillance audit at major airports, no significant lapses were observed. All  observations  were  categorized  as  level  II  and  communicated  to  concerned  aerodrome operators. Further, after the completion of action by operators, the same were closed.;

;

(c):  Airport  license  is  issued  after  satisfactory  compliance  to  the  requirements  specified  in Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 4, Series B, Part I and Section 4, Series F, Part I. Aerodrome operators are responsible to  maintain  airports  in  fit  state  during  the  validity  of aerodrome license and the same is ensured by DGCA by conducting surveillance inspections regularly.  Further,  if  any  violation  is  identified,  enforcement  action  against  the  aerodrome operator is initiated as per Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.; ; (d):Keeping  in  view  of  current  and  future  expansion  of  civil  aviation  sector,  effective supervision  and  enhanced  role  of  DGCA  as  safety  regulator,  441  posts  have  been  created during last 3 years as part of DGCA restructuring. Out of total 1630 sanctioned strength of DGCA, 836 posts are currently filled.; ; In the last 4 months, following steps have been taken to strengthen manpower in DGCA:-; i. 22 Officers have joined.; ii. Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) for 42 officers completed.; iii.  62  Technical  Officers,  5  Flight  Operations  Inspectors  (FoIs)  and  8  Stenographers  have been selected to join.; iv. Examination for 121 Operations Officers has been conducted.;; ; (e): Regular safety oversight at licensed airports is an ongoing activity and is carried out in accordance with the Annual Surveillance Plan published on the DGCA website. The findings observed during such inspections  are  communicated to  the  concerned  airport  operators  for necessary corrective action and same is monitored by DGCA at regular intervals.

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