
In Air India's Internal Safety Audits DGCA team find lapses
A two-member inspection team of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has found flaws in Air India’s internal safety audit and the regulator is looking into the matter, according to officials.
When contacted, an Air India spokesperson said all airlines are subject to regular safety audits by regulators and other bodies.
“Air India actively engages in such audits to continuously evaluate and strengthen our processes,” the spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the airline has taken up with the relevant authority. Addresses any issue directly.
According to the inspection report submitted to the DGCA, the airline was supposed to regularly check security spots in various areas of operations such as cabin surveillance, cargo, ramps and loads but during a random inspection of 13 security points, the team found that the airline produced false reports in all 13 cases.
“Furthermore, when cross-verified with CCTV, recordings, audit statements, shift register documents, GD (General Declaration) list, passenger manifest etc., it is deemed that all the said 13 spots “Checks are shown to have been carried out at stations in Mumbai, Goa. and Delhi. It was verified and established that the performance was not actually performed,” the two-member team wrote in the ‘Deficiency Reporting Form’ (DRF) said.
The inspection found that these reports were “subsequently fabricated/falsified when sought by the DGCA team”.
Further, the inspection report stated that these fake spot check reports were not signed by the Chief of Flight Safety (CFS) who has the authority to do so.
The team visited the Air India office in Gurugram, Haryana on July 25 and 26 and noted the deficiencies in the DRF after inspection.
When contacted, DGCA Director General Vikram Dev Dutt said that the matter is being investigated by the regulator.
According to the inspection report, the checklists were physically signed by an auditor from the Quality Management System (QMS) department which does not come under the scope of approval and inspection of DGCA and their various qualification criteria/qualifications. are industry standards.
The inspection report states that the team did not receive any written communication to the auditor for delegation of authority. “Furthermore, there was no email correspondence and authorization from CFS for testing the said games, apart from verbal confirmation from CFS,” it said.
According to the inspection report, regarding the pre-flight medical examination (alcohol consumption test of pilots), Air India claimed that it did a spot check but the team found that the airline’s internal auditor physically inspected the facility. Did not visit which is mandatory. to accomplish many checklist items”.
“Also, equipment details and test readings are not noted in the checklist. Only, all points are marked satisfactory without spot checking,” he said.
Regarding the ramp services, the inspection team found that the name of a person was mentioned as duty officer in the spot check list of the airline but there was no such person in the said shift.
“It has also been confirmed by the audit department that no spot check has been done on the subject date in the said area. All the points have been marked satisfactory without mere spot check,” it said.
As for the spot check in cabin surveillance, the inspection team found that the airline had claimed to do it on July 16, 2023, but it was not done and “the claimed auditor was merely traveling as a passenger on the said flight. . family members”.
Further, the inspection team said the airline was unable to provide the flight safety auditors list on time.
“Subsequently, the list was provided only at the end of the inspection which included auditors of the QMS whose qualifications/competencies differ from those specified in the FSM (Flight Safety Manual). As the QMS does not fall under its purview “The DGCA, CAR (Civil Aviation Requirements) do not specify the qualifications of QMS auditors,” the team said.
In addition, the operator was unable to provide the actual list of flight safety auditors and their permits when the inspection team attempted to distinguish flight safety from QMS auditors.
“All aviation companies, including Air India, are subject to regular safety audits by regulators and other bodies in India and abroad.
“Air India actively engages in such audits to continuously evaluate and strengthen its processes. We take up any issues raised directly with the relevant authority,” an Air India spokesperson said in the statement.
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