It’s time to ensure safer skies

Source: The post is based on the article “It’s time to ensure safer skies” published in The Hindu on 23rd May 2023.

Syllabus: GS – 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Relevance: About Mangalore air accident and aviation sector.

News: It has been 13 years since an aircraft crashed in Mangalore resulting in the deaths of 158 people. But investigation agencies have still not identified the reasons for such accidents and provided corrective steps.

About the PIL on the Mangalore runway

In 1997, a Bangalore-based NGO filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Karnataka High Court regarding the second runway in Mangalore airport. The NGO warned, “The inevitable consequence could be that the plane will come crashing down the hillsides from a height of 80-100 metres…”

But the High Court dismissed the PIL and the Supreme Court has said that the “Government shall comply with all applicable laws and also with environmental norms.” The government agencies also did not comply with laws or norms.

About the Mangalore air accident

All these led to the loss of 158 lives in 2010 when AIE 812 crashed on landing in Mangalore. The aircraft overshot the runway, plunged down the hillside as the petitioners had warned, and burst into flames. The reports found that the aircraft crashed into the illegal concrete structure on which the Instrument Landing System Localiser antenna was mounted.

The International Civil Aviation Organization asked India to ensure that all localiser structures were frangible. But, in Mangalore airport, the structure was replaced with steel girders.

About the reform committee and its recommendations

The Ministry of Civil Aviation constituted the Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC) after the Mangalore crash. The focus was on critical runways, such as in Mangalore and Calicut.

The CASAC pointed out

a) There is a failure of the court of inquiry report in identifying serious errors and taking corrective steps, b) The failure to provide the mandatory Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) at Calicut could result in fatal accidents on the runway if any aircraft touched down late at high speed. So, the committee recommended having RESA at both ends, c) The narrow service road would prevent quick rescue by rescue and firefighting vehicles.

But the Ministry and the DGCA ignored the CASAC observations.

What are the other issues diminishing India’s aviation sector?

India is inducting a large number of aircraft into our skies without the minimum number of qualified professionals to man critical stations such as cockpit, ATC and engineering. Further, the low availability of pilots leads to the available pilots being fatigued in their work. This is bound to lower the safety standards in India.

So, now it is time for the court to pick up these issues and suggest reforms.