DGCA audits flying training organisations, enhances surveillance

The regulator said the latest circular is aimed at enhancing DGCA’s oversight over flight training and ground training activities of the training organization to improve safety of operations and quality of training. The regulator said that this would also facilitate the trainers to analyze the performance of the trainee pilots and conduct checks by the DGCA.

The latest circular directs the FTOs to install high resolution cameras in the premises covering the apron area, hangar, taxiway, classrooms, examination room and areas where flights are authorized to ensure proper visibility of flight training activities. The regulator has ordered the cameras to be commissioned within 90 days.

The DGCA has also asked the FTOs to ensure that the data of flights flown by trainee pilots and instructors is recorded and monitored to check whether it is as per the prescribed protocols.

DGCA stated that the data is to be maintained and the Safety Manager shall conduct flight data analysis of at least 25% of the flights of the FTO on a daily basis and maintain a record of the analysis. The recordings of the cameras installed in the premises need to be preserved. Flight data for at least 30 days and for all instruments for at least six months.

By July 2022, there were 35 Flying Training Organizations (FTOs) in the country. In 2021, after a competitive bidding process, AAI awarded nine FTO slots at five airports at Belagavi (Karnataka), Jalgaon (Maharashtra), Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) and Lilabari (Assam). As on 30 June 2022, four of these FTOs are operational: one each in Jalgaon and Lilabari, and two in Kalaburagi.

Six more FTO slots awarded by AAI at five airports namely Bhavnagar (Gujarat), Hubli (Karnataka), Cuddapah (Andhra Pradesh), Kishangarh (Rajasthan) and Salem (Tamil Nadu) in June 2022, after a competitive bidding process .