NEW DELHI. Directorate General of Civil Aviation has announced stringent new safety mandates for non-scheduled flight operators following a high-level review meeting held yesterday amid a recent rise in aviation incidents.
The regulator said safety must take precedence over commercial considerations, including charter and VIP commitments, and reaffirmed that a Pilot-in-Command’s decision on safety grounds will be final.
Under the new measures, operators must publicly disclose key safety details such as aircraft age, maintenance history and pilot experience.
The DGCA will introduce safety rankings, intensify cockpit voice recorder and data audits, and hold senior management accountable for systemic lapses.
Stricter penalties, including licence suspension and action against operator permits, have also been prescribed. The second phase of special safety audits of non-scheduled operators will begin next month after the current audit cycle concludes.
