The Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) latest surveillance audit at major airports found no significant safety lapses, with all detected issues categorised as Level II and subsequently closed after corrective measures, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday.
In DGCA terminology, Level II findings indicate procedural or administrative shortcomings that do not pose any immediate threat to aviation safety, unlike Level I breaches, which reflect critical safety risks.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, stated that the aviation regulator has established a comprehensive oversight mechanism at all licensed airports to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements. This includes regular surveillance audits, spot checks, and regulatory reviews, designed to maintain passenger safety and align with global aviation standards.
He noted that special audits are also conducted whenever perceived risks warrant deeper assessments. Airport licences are issued only after compliance with norms outlined under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 4.
According to the minister, aerodrome operators are responsible for ensuring airports remain compliant throughout the validity of their licences. The DGCA verifies this through routine surveillance inspections. If any violation is identified, enforcement actions are initiated as per the regulator’s Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.
Mohol also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen the DGCA workforce. In the past four months, 22 officers selected for various positions have joined the organisation. The Departmental Promotion Committee has likewise completed its review process for 42 officers.
Additionally, 62 technical officers, five flight operations inspectors, and eight stenographers have been selected to join the DGCA. An examination has also been held to recruit 121 operations officers, further expanding the regulator’s manpower capacity.
Taking into account the expanding civil aviation sector and the DGCA’s increased responsibilities as a safety regulator, the government has created 441 posts in the last three years as part of the agency’s restructuring. Out of the 1,630 sanctioned positions, 836 are currently filled.
The minister added that routine safety oversight at licensed airports is an ongoing process carried out in line with the Annual Surveillance Plan available on the DGCA website. Observations recorded during inspections are communicated to aerodrome operators for necessary corrective actions, which are monitored by the DGCA at regular intervals.
