New Delhi, February 24 The DGCA, aviation regulator, announced a series of safety measures for non-scheduled flight operators on Tuesday, including the public disclosure of aircraft maintenance records and a safety ranking system, in the wake of recent plane crashes.
A day after a plane, operated by a non-scheduled operator (NSOP), crashed in Jharkhand, killing seven people on board, the DGCA held a meeting with all such operators.
The meeting was held to "address a recent surge in aviation incidents and emphasized the critical need for increased focus on safety across the sector," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.
Issuing a strong warning, the regulator stated that accountable managers and senior leadership of NSOPs would be held personally responsible for systemic non-compliance, and stressed that "safety lapses cannot simply be blamed on pilots."
Besides the requirement of public disclosure of critical safety information, including aircraft age and maintenance history, the DGCA said there would be a safety ranking of the NSOPs.
Pilots of NSOPs would face stricter penalties for non-compliance, and could even face suspension of their licenses for up to five years.
The regulator said there would be increased monitoring of NSOPs' older aircraft as well as those undergoing ownership changes.
