Aviation Safety – Explained Pointwise

India’s aviation sector is one of the fastest-growing sector in the world. However, the recent crash of Air India Airline in Ahmedabad into a residential area that led to the killing of more than 240 people & is considered as one of the worst airline disaster. It led us to discuss the importance, challenges, government initiatives related to aviation safety in India.

What is the importance of Aviation Safety? 

1. Passenger Confidence and Public Trust: The most fundamental aspect is ensuring the safety of passengers and crew. A strong safety record instills confidence in the traveling public, encouraging more people to choose air travel. Conversely, even a single major incident can severely erode public trust and negatively impact passenger traffic.

2. Economic Growth and Development: 

• Facilitating Trade and Commerce: Safe and efficient air transport is vital for business. It enables rapid movement of goods (especially high-value cargo like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and perishables) and personnel, facilitating trade, foreign investment, and the overall economic growth of the country.
• Supporting the Aviation Industry: A strong safety reputation helps Indian airlines attract passengers and maintain competitiveness. Accidents lead to grounding of fleets, investigations, and financial penalties, all of which are detrimental to airline profitability and growth. 
• Job Creation: The aviation sector is a significant employer, directly and indirectly. A safe and growing industry ensures job security and creates new opportunities in airlines, airports, maintenance, manufacturing, and related services.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): International investors are more likely to invest in a country’s aviation infrastructure and airlines if they perceive a high level of safety and regulatory compliance. A lax safety environment deters foreign capital.

3. Tourism Promotion: 

• International Tourists: Air travel is the primary mode of transport for international tourists visiting India. A safe aviation system is a prerequisite for a thriving tourism sector, which contributes significantly to GDP and generates employment.
• Domestic Tourists: As disposable incomes rise, more Indians are opting for air travel for leisure. Assured safety encourages domestic tourism, connecting various parts of the vast country and boosting regional economies (e.g., through schemes like UDAN).

4. Adherence to Global Standards: India is a signatory to the Chicago Convention and a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Maintaining high aviation safety standards is crucial for meeting international obligations and remaining compliant with ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

5. Maintaining Category 1 Status: Countries are periodically assessed by international bodies like the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for their aviation safety oversight capabilities. Maintaining a “Category 1” rating (which India currently holds) is essential for Indian airlines to operate and expand services to countries like the US, highlighting the criticality of safety compliance.

What are the challenges related to Aviation Safety?

1. Airport Congestion: Major airports like Delhi and Mumbai are operating near or beyond their optimal capacity, leading to delays and increasing the risk of runway incursions. While new airports and expansions are underway (e.g., Navi Mumbai International Airport), the pace of infrastructure development often lags behind demand.

2. Air Traffic Management (ATM):

• ATC Shortage: There’s a significant shortfall of trained Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) in India. The recruitment and training process is lengthy (2-4 years), and the demand continues to outpace the supply. This leads to overworked controllers, extended shifts, and fatigue, which are known precursors to errors.
• Outdated Systems: While modernization efforts are ongoing, some ATC systems might still be grappling with older technology, potentially affecting efficiency and safety in increasingly crowded skies.

3. Pilot Shortage and Training Quality:

• High Training Costs: Becoming a commercial pilot in India is extremely expensive, often requiring significant loans, which can deter aspiring pilots.
• Outdated/Inadequate FTOs (Flying Training Organizations): Concerns have been raised about the quality of training, outdated aircraft, and insufficient instructor numbers at some Indian FTOs, leading many aspiring pilots to train abroad.
• Fatigue Management: Despite DGCA’s updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), ensuring strict compliance and managing pilot fatigue effectively remains a challenge due to rostering pressures and demand.

4. Shortage of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs): The booming fleet requires a proportional increase in skilled AMEs. India faces a shortage, often relying on foreign talent or sending aircraft abroad for major maintenance.

5. Aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Ecosystem:

• Underdeveloped Domestic MRO: India’s MRO facilities are insufficient to meet the needs of its growing fleet. Airlines often have to send aircraft abroad for major checks and overhauls (to Singapore, UAE, Europe), which is costly and results in longer grounding times.
• Supply Chain Disruptions and Engine Issues: Recent years have seen significant challenges with global supply chain disruptions for aircraft parts and components. Specifically, issues with certain engine types have led to the grounding of a substantial portion of Indian airline fleets (e.g., Go First’s collapse, IndiGo’s grounded aircraft), impacting operational capacity and profitability. This directly affects safety as aircraft availability is reduced and older, less fuel-efficient aircraft might be wet-leased as a stopgap.

What have been the government initiatives for Aviation Safety?

1. Bhartiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024: This is a landmark piece of legislation that came into effect on January 1, 2025, replacing the nearly century-old Aircraft Act of 1934.

• Modernization: It modernizes India’s aviation system, aligning it with contemporary needs and global standards (like the Chicago Convention and ICAO).
• Defined Roles for Authorities: It clearly defines and establishes distinct roles for the three key aviation authorities:
  • Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The primary regulatory body responsible for safety oversight, licensing, certification, and airworthiness.
  • Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS): Responsible for civil aviation security.
  • Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB): An independent body specifically mandated to investigate aircraft accidents and serious incidents. This independence from the DGCA is crucial for unbiased investigations.
• Stricter Penalties: The Act introduces stricter penalties for safety violations, demonstrating a “zero tolerance” approach towards compromises on safety. This includes provisions for immediate grounding of aircraft that fail to meet safety standards.

2. GAGAN (GPS-Aided Geo-Augmented Navigation): Developed jointly by AAI and ISRO, GAGAN is India’s own Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS). Operational since 2015, it enhances the accuracy and integrity of GPS signals, improving navigation, especially for approach and landing, and enabling precision approaches at non-instrumented airports, thereby significantly enhancing safety, particularly in challenging terrains.

3. TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) and GPWS/EGPWS (Ground Proximity Warning System/Enhanced GPWS): The DGCA mandates the installation and proper functioning of these systems on commercial aircraft to prevent mid-air collisions and controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), respectively.

4. International Collaboration and Compliance: India actively collaborates with international organizations like ICAO and IATA, participating in safety audits (e.g., ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program – USOAP) and adopting global best practices and standards to ensure its aviation safety framework remains world-class. India’s consistent Category 1 rating from the US FAA is a testament to its efforts in this regard.

What can be the way forward for promoting Aviation Safety?

1. Address Manpower Shortages in DGCA and AAIB:

• Aggressive Recruitment and Retention: Expedite recruitment of highly qualified technical personnel (pilots, engineers, ATCs, inspectors) for the DGCA, AAIB, and AAI. Offer competitive salaries and career progression to attract and retain top talent.
• Specialized Training: Invest heavily in continuous, advanced training for regulatory staff to keep them updated with the latest aviation technologies, safety management systems, and investigation techniques.

2. Boost Domestic MRO Capabilities:

• Policy Support: Continue and enhance policy support (e.g., tax incentives, land availability, streamlined approvals) to attract investment in India’s MRO sector.
• Skill Development: Link MRO growth with skill development initiatives to ensure a ready supply of certified AMEs and technicians.
• Reduce Grounding Due to Engine Issues: Proactively engage with global engine manufacturers to address and resolve recurring engine issues impacting Indian carriers’ fleets.

3. Safety Management Systems (SMS) Effectiveness: Ensure that all aviation service providers (airlines, airports, MROs, ATC) have fully functional and effective SMS that are integrated into their daily operations and decision-making. Regulators should audit the effectiveness of these SMS, not just their presence.

4. Wildlife Management: Strengthen wildlife hazard management programs at airports, especially given the high incidence of bird strikes.

Conclusion:
The core challenge is managing the unprecedented growth of the Indian aviation sector while ensuring that safety standards not only keep pace but also continuously improve. By systematically addressing these areas, India can not only sustain the rapid growth of its aviation sector but also establish itself as a global benchmark for aviation safety.