Why in news?

The Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture tabled its 380th report on “Overall Review of Safety in the Civil Aviation Sector” in both Houses of Parliament. The report has issued a strong warning about the state of India’s aviation safety system.

The panel’s sharp observations highlight serious systemic lapses in India’s aviation safety architecture and stress the urgent need for reforms to prevent future tragedies.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Context and Trigger of the Report
• Parliamentary Panel on Aviation Safety: Key Findings and Concerns
• Conclusion

Context and Trigger of the Report

• In the backdrop of the AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad (2025), the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has raised serious alarms over systemic lapses in India’s civil aviation safety architecture.
• The committee’s 380th report highlights regulatory weaknesses, operational stress, and governance failures that could escalate into future disasters if unaddressed.
• The Committee also summoned officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to question them on delays in accident investigations and coordination failures.
• While the report does not directly mention the AI 171 crash, members of the committee extensively discussed it during deliberations.

Parliamentary Panel on Aviation Safety: Key Findings and Concerns

• Aviation Safety at Risk
  • The committee observes that India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector has stretched infrastructure and regulation to their limits.
  • With passenger traffic expected to cross 300 million annually by 2030, unchecked fleet growth, workforce fatigue, and outdated infrastructure could create conditions ripe for catastrophic accidents.
• DGCA Autonomy Crisis
  • The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is grossly understaffed — only 553 of 1,063 sanctioned posts are filled.
  • Nearly 45% of technical staff are on deputation, leading to high attrition and loss of institutional memory.
  • India’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit placed it below the global average in safety oversight.
  • Without urgent reforms, India risks international restrictions on airline operations.
  • The committee demands full administrative and financial autonomy for DGCA and recruitment independence from UPSC to attract technical experts.
• Air Traffic Controllers: Overworked and Fatigued
  • Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) at major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad are working prolonged, fatiguing shifts.
  • Due to staff shortages, many airports merge control sectors at night, increasing risks.
  • The committee calls this “institutionalised overwork” and demands:
    • A Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS).
    • An end to exemptions from duty-time rules.
    • A staffing audit and expansion of ATC training capacity.
• Unresolved Safety Deficiencies
  • As of April 2025, 3,747 safety deficiencies remain unresolved, including 37 critical risks.
  • DGCA’s enforcement is termed a “procedural formality”, lacking real deterrence.
  • Recommendations include:
    • Time-bound closure of deficiencies (72 hours for critical cases).
    • Strict penalties, suspension, or licence cancellation for non-compliance.
    • Independent audits of DGCA’s enforcement system.
• Helicopter Operations: Weak Oversight
  • Since 2021, India has seen 23 helicopter incidents, including four during the 2025 Char Dham Yatra.
  • Oversight is fragmented, with state agencies like Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) managing operations with limited DGCA involvement.
  • The committee calls for:
    • A uniform national framework for helicopter operations.
    • Terrain-specific training for mountain pilots.
    • A DGCA helicopter oversight cell for continuous monitoring.
• Recurring Operational Risks
  • Runway incursions rose to 14.12 per million movements in 2024, exceeding the target of 9.78.
  • Similar overshoots were noted for loss-of-situational-awareness events and near mid-air collision (AIRPROX) incidents.
  • The panel recommends:
    • Root-cause analysis of each incident.
    • Focused safety programmes at high-risk airports.
    • Faster deployment of fog navigation and Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) systems.
• Regulatory Culture and Whistleblower Protection
  • A punitive culture discourages reporting of safety lapses.
  • Instances cited where ATCOs were fined up to ₹25 lakh.
  • The committee urges:
    • Adoption of a “just culture” approach that distinguishes errors from negligence.
    • A legally backed whistleblower protection system ensuring anonymity and preventing victimisation.
• Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Dependence and Strategic Vulnerabilities
  • India depends 85% on foreign MRO facilities, spending ₹15,000 crore annually overseas.
  • This creates strategic vulnerabilities in case of geopolitical shocks.
  • Recommendations include:
    • Rationalising GST and customs duties on aviation spares.
    • Incentivising domestic MRO hubs.
    • Launching a national aviation skill mission.
• Governance Gaps in Airports Authority of India (AAI)
  • AAI lacks a Member (ATC) on its Board despite repeated recommendations since 2006.
  • The committee calls this a serious governance failure, undermining systemic safety planning.

Conclusion

The committee’s report is a roadmap for urgent reforms, stressing that without stronger regulation, staffing reforms, and governance changes, India risks facing future aviation disasters and international restrictions.