The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on June 16 said that after an audit of 30 Flight Training Organizations (FTOs) from March 21, 2022, it found them to be violating several safety norms.
As per the findings, “the facilities at the airfield/training organization are not being maintained as per the requirements – the runway surface was eroded, the air sack was found to be torn or non-standard,” the aviation regulator said.
In addition, pre-flight alcohol test norms were not followed in many FTOs, the DGCA said.
Read also: SpiceJet bans 90 pilots from flying 737 MAX aircraft after DGCA fine
“Some instructors, student pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers did not undergo BA (breathalyzer) test or submit undertaking prior to commencement of duty/exercise of privileges,” the DGCA said.
Among others, some of the test equipment being used by the FTO were not in compliance with the requirements or were calibrated as required, the DGCA said.
“Based on these audit findings and the findings of the recent accident, enforcement action has been issued, warning letters to two accountable managers, suspension orders to two CFIs (Certified Flight Instructors) for one year, two CFIs for 3 months, one One year for Deputy CFI, two Deputy CFIs for three months, one AFI (Assistant Flight Instructor) for three months and one student for three months.
Following the audit report, the sanction of one FTO has been suspended while enforcement action against other persons/FTOs is in various stages.
Earlier on June 6, private airliner SpiceJet had banned 90 pilots from operating 737 MAX planes after the DGCA fined the carrier for training pilots on a faulty simulator.
The company has 650 pilots trained on MAX aircraft and DGCA had done an overview on the training profile of 90 pilots. These pilots will be retrained.
Also DGCA imposed fine Rs 10 lakh on SpiceJet for training the pilots of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on the faulty simulator, as it could have an adverse effect on flight safety.
With inputs from PTI.