Head: a case of multiple failures, at too many checkpoints
Anjuli bhargava
In Yeet Another Institute that Raises More Questions Than It Answers, The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Transferred the Director in the Director in the Director of Flying of Flying Training (DFT) to Drone Operations with no excursions Reasons. The Director Had taken charge of flying training only in August 2024, but he was transferred on January 30, well before his three-yaar term was over.
Nobody barring a less might know the actual reason, but here’s what the industry has surprised. A Complaint Letter by the President of the Association of Flight Training Organizations (FTOS) Sent on January 21 to the head of flight safety raies a red flag with regard to the training operations of a kanpur fto. The fto in question was using its aircraft to train students and violating a less civil aviation requirements in the process.
Three Primary Violations Were Burght to the Attention of the Authorities: One, The aircraft of the flying school was not equipped with transponders, an electronic device Traffic Control (ATC) and other aircraft. Transponders are essential for safe and efficient flight operations and a Civil Aviation Requirement (Car) was issued over two two decades ago in 2003 that all aircraft must be fitted with these. Two, the fto’s aircraft was flying at time when the visibility was below the required level, Stoking Possibility of Collision with Both India Air Force’s FIRCE FILCE FILCE FILCE FILCE FILCE FILCE From Kanpur. The aircraft of the fto operated on a different vhf band from the IAF Fighters and Commercial Jets, which meant meant meaning aircraft within its Vicinity would not even be able beele to myr. What is also of concern is that trainee pilots typically start flying solo with as little as 25-30 hours of experience, as per the dgca and international norms Environment.
Low visibility, aircrafts operating on different frequencies and no transponders on some aircrafts are a recipe for disaster and clock lead to a serial or Eveen Accident, Accident, Accident, Accident, Experts in the sector. Equipment and Machines can only enhance safety to a degree and cannot Substitute Self-Discipline and Internal Checks by that Conducting operations. While the letter from the Association Head Refeers to and Tries to Establish Collusion Between Dgca Officials and The Violating Fto, I will stay off this subject as the Bigger COISTEMIC FAILINS Rather than individuals in question.
Ever Since the Complaint was filled and the matter came to the attention of the DGCA, Ministry of Civil Aviation and the IAF, Many Actions Have Followed, Including the transfer of the director of flying. But many questions remain, which I will raise here.
Why was the fto operating in visibility conditions that are less than optimal for safe flying in the prescribed airfield? What is the desperation and why can this training be carried out during better visibility? Is it Worth Risking The Lives of Your Instructor, Students and the Lives of the Occupans of Other Aircraft in the Vicinity, be it a Commercial aircraft full of passengers or a fighter aircraft? If an incident or accident was to Occur, would it not mar the credit, or even means the end, of the fto in question? Many Global Airline Accidents With Fatalities have marked the end of the business in the past. Seen against these, the fto’s actions defy logic.
But a lot of things in India are left to fate and defy logic. So, I will ask this: why the aircraft of the said fto not meeting the most basic requirement of being equipped with transponders? This car, after all, has been around for so long that no fto can claim ignorance or unfamiliarity with it.
But, In India, Special Examptions are Always Possible, even the norm in certain cases. It appears that some of the ftos in India who did not want to bear the extra cost or pull aircraft out (thus foregoing revenue) to get these retrofitted with transponders From the authorities, which sounds penny-with and pound-foolish. Also, as someone flying such an aircraft on a daily or weekly Basis to train students, why would a commander or instructor not insist on something
Further, why would the air traffic personnel involved or functioning in the area not be vigilant to this? Would they not be help accountable if some mishap Took place involving two aircraft? How could this have died under the very nose of the IAF, Known for its adept management of almost all things under Ambit? And what do the Commercial Airlines Operating in the Area Think of this if they were aware?
Last, but not least: is the dgca seized of this case? What actions have been taken against the fto that violated the cars? Has the regulator examined how many such cases there are, operating flouting the rules access airfields and in the airspace of our Vast Country? Are people only to be transferred or help accountable when an infraction come to light or enter the public domain? In General, Are Passengers Supposed to Fly on a Wing and Collative Prayers? I’ll end here with this series of questions in the hope of some answers.
Anjuli Bhargava Writes About Governance, Infrastructure and the Social Sector. The views expressed are personal
