Air India stated the order, saying that it had implemented the order of the aviation watchdog. Here is why the DGCA issued the order, in less than 10 days after the tragic Air India plane crash.
India’s civil aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Air India to retire three officials from all their duties and responsibilities related to rostering and crew scheduling after detecting serious shortcomings.
In a June 20 order, the DGCA also directed the Tata Group-owned airline to take immediate action and proceed against these three officials. Air India announced after the order was issued, stating that it had put into place the order of the aviation regulator.
“In the meantime, the company’s Chief Operations Officer will have direct supervision over the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to having total compliance with safety norms and standard procedures,” Air India stated.
DGCA’s directive explained that it had identified “repeated and serious violations” relating to the rostering of its crew. “Repeated and serious violations voluntarily reported by Air India about flight crew being rostered and operated despite lapses in rest, recency, and licensing requirements.
The aviation regulator also disclosed that it discovered the contraventions in its post-transition audit of ARMS to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System. Air India employs ARMS (Air Route Management System) software to carry out various operational and management activities such as crew rostering, flight planning and others.
