DGCA imposes Rs 30 lakh penalty on Air India for flouting rules

NEW DELHI: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a Rs 30 lakh penalty on Air India for allowing a first officer to operate a flight without the mandatory recency requirements.
In its January 29 order, DGCA stated a first officer “operated a flight on July 7 despite not having the mandatory recency requirement of three take-offs and landings, leading to violation of (rules).The (rostering) controllers overlooked multiple spurious alerts.”
The airline has been directed to act against three senior rostering department officials and inform the regulator about it within 15 days.
Comments from AI were awaited till the time of going to press. DGCA had issued a show cause to AI heads of operations and rostering on December 13. Their reply was found “unsatisfactory” following which, on January 29, AI was asked to deposit the penalty amount within 30 days.