New Delhi- Aviation regulator DGCA on Wednesday said it has suspended the authorisation of RedBird Flight Training Academy for carrying out maintenance of its aircraft after finding deficiencies in an audit carried out in the wake of two incidents of crash landing last month.
After the two incidents of aircraft crash landing within a span of one week in October, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had suspended the operations of Redbird Flight Training Academy at all its bases.
A special maintenance audit was carried out at the training academy’s main base in Baramati, Maharashtra and at four sub-bases in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh; Kalburgi and Belgavi in Karnataka; and Lilabari, Assam.
“The findings from the special maintenance audit revealed deficiencies in personnel training, maintenance schedules and records, internal audit practices, tool and store management and fuel storage and handling,” DGCA said in a release.
Subsequently, the regulator initiated enforcement action against the training academy and a show cause notice was issued.
“DGCA has reviewed the corrective actions taken by Red Bird Flight Training Academy Pvt. Ltd. on the findings of the maintenance audit.
“The review has indicated that the flying training organisation has failed to continuously adhere to the provisions of Aircraft Rules, 1937 and Civil Aviation Requirements in order to ensure proper maintenance of the aircraft for ensuring continued safe operations.
“Accordingly, recertification of the maintenance organization and continuous airworthiness management of M/s Red Bird Flight Training Academy Pvt. Ltd. is being undertaken afresh by DGCA,” the statement said.
In one of the two crash landing incidents, the crew suffered minor injuries as well. The incidents happened on October 19 and October 22.
RedBird has a fleet of 30 aircraft. These include both single and twin-engine planes.
DGCA Slaps Rs 10 Lakh Penalty On Air India
DGCA has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for its failure to comply with norms pertaining to facilities that are required to be provided to passengers, including non-payment of compensation to international business class passengers who were made to travel on unserviceable seats.
After carrying out inspections of airlines at Delhi, Kochi and Bangalore airports, the regulator observed that Air India was not complying with the provisions of the relevant Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR).
Later, a show-cause notice was issued to Air India on November 3.
In a release on Wednesday, DGCA said that based on Air India’s reply to the show-cause notice, it was found that the airline did not comply with the provisions of the CAR.
These pertain to “not providing hotel accommodation for passengers affected by delayed flights, non-training of some of their ground personnel as per the stipulations and non-payment of compensation to international business class passengers who were made to travel on unserviceable seats,” it said.
For these lapses, the regulator has imposed a financial penalty of Rs 10 lakh.
There was no immediate comment from Air India.
Last year, the regulator imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for not complying with the provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on denied boarding of passengers. (PTI)
