Online system for aviation safety

What is the news?

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced a Web-based system on the eGCA platform for voluntary reporting of incidents that pose a potential threat to flight safety.

About the Voluntary Safety Reporting System

So far, the Voluntary Safety Reporting System is available on e-mail and postal mode. Now, the DGCA introduced a web-based system on “eGCA” portal.

Anyone witnessing or involved or having knowledge of an occurrence, hazard or situation which he or she believes possesses a potential threat to flight safety could report the same to the contact details made available on the official website of the DGCA.

What is the Voluntary Safety Reporting System?

As part of the state safety programme, the DGCA had a voluntary safety reporting system. This is to facilitate the collection of information on actual or potential safety deficiencies that may not be captured by the mandatory safety reporting system.

The reporting system would be non-punitive and would protect the identity of the source. While anonymous reports would be accepted, the person may disclose his/her identity to enable contact if any part of the report needed clarification.

However, the Voluntary Safety Reporting System was not a substitute for Mandatory Safety Reporting System that would continue to function. 

What is DGCA?

It is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It is the regulatory body in the field of Civil Aviation primarily dealing with safety issues. 

DGCA is responsible for (a) regulation of air transport services to/from/within India (b)enforcement of civil air regulations (c)air safety (d) airworthiness standards and (e) co-ordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Source: This post is based on the article “Online system for aviation safety” published in The Hindu on 06 October 2021.