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Airlines

DGCA to Serve Show-Cause Notices to Four Private Domestic Carriers for Violating Aviation Norms at Goa's Dabolim Airport

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced plans to serve show-cause notices to four private domestic carriers - GoAir, Kingfisher, Jet Airways, and JetLite - for violating norms at the Dabolim airport in Goa. Despite repeated warnings, these airlines continued to operate flights during the "curfew hours," posing a significant risk to aviation safety. DGCA chief EK Bharat Bhushan has emphasized that such violations will not be tolerated and has threatened to cancel the operating licenses of these airlines if safety standards are not met.

Key Takeaways:

  • The DGCA has issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) about a week ago, informing airlines of a 16-hour daily curfew at Dabolim airport due to non-functional landing aids from April 4 to 30.
  • Despite this warning, flights were found to be landing at the airport during the restricted hours, prompting the DGCA to initiate action against the airlines.
  • The DGCA has decided to serve show-cause notices to four private domestic carriers - GoAir, Kingfisher, Jet Airways, and JetLite, for violating aviation norms.
  • The notices would be served on Wednesday, with the airlines required to explain their actions and face potential penalties, including license cancellation.
  • The DGCA has also directed the airlines to de-roster the cabin crew involved in the flight operations.
  • The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) has complained to the regulator, stating that Air India (AI) had thrown "flight safety to the winds" by continuing operations at the Goa airport during the restricted hours.

Statistics:

  • 16 hours: The daily curfew period at Dabolim airport due to non-functional landing aids.
  • April 4 to 30: The period during which the landing aids were not operational.
  • 2: The number of critical landing aids (PAPI and GP) that were not functional during this period.
  • 4: The number of private domestic carriers - GoAir, Kingfisher, Jet Airways, and JetLite - that have been served show-cause notices by the DGCA.

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times (HT Syndication) with permission.

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