DGCA Suspends Training Head And Imposes Rs. 20 Lakh Fine On AirAsia For Violating Rules

DGCA suspended Air Asia’s Head of Training from his position for a period of three months for failing to discharge his duties on 11 February 2023, and also slapped a penalty of Rs. 20 lakhs on AirAsia India, for violation of pilot training requirements.

This is the third enforcement action against a Tata Group airline in over a month. Earlier, AirAsia India allegedly violated aviation norms with respect to pilot proficiency checks and instrument rating tests and was likely to face enforcement action from the safety regulator.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s statement

The enforcement action came following a surveillance inspection conducted by the DGCA on AirAsia airline from 23 November to 25 November last year.

DGCA said in a statement, ” The DGCA team observed that a few mandatory exercises of the pilots of Air Asia (India) Ltd were not done during the pilot proficiency check/instrument rating check (which is an International Civil Aviation Organization requirement) as per schedule, resulting in violation of DGCA regulations”.

“A financial penalty of Rs. 20 lakhs has been imposed on AirAsia (India) Ltd for violation of applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs),” the statement read.

According to the statement, The DGCA has also directed the airline to withdraw its head of training from his position for a period of three months for failing to discharge his duties as per applicable DGCA CARs.

“Financial penalty of Rs. 3 lakhs has been imposed each on eight Designated Examiners of AirAsia (India) for failing to discharge their duties as per applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements,” the statement read.

AirAsia India said it is reviewing the DGCA order and considering an appeal against it.

AirAsia India’s version

AirAsia spokesperson said the airline has already conducted mandatory exercises for the pilots as part of a simulator training done beyond the mandated regulatory training requirements.

“We acknowledge that a finding related to training exercises of pilots was observed by the DGCA following the main base inspection in November 2022. Immediate corrective action was taken in coordination with DGCA and additional simulator training sessions to address the gap were implemented,” an AirAsia spokesperson said in the statement.

“We wish to reiterate that there is no deviation from the safety margins required for our operations. Nonetheless, we are reviewing the DGCA order and are considering making an appeal as per available regulatory provisions,” the airline spokesperson added.

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