DGCA orders special audit of flying training organisations

DGCA orders special audit of flying training organisations

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated comprehensive Special Safety Audit of all Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) across India.

The audit, which will include 33 FTOs, will be carried out in three phases between September and November of 2024. The first phase, which will cover 11 FTOs, will start in September 2024.

"This audit aims to thoroughly assess the safety standards, operational procedures, and systemic deficiencies within flying training organisations to ensure the highest levels of safety and compliance," DGCA said in a release on Thursday.

The regulator said the move follows a series of recent training aircraft incidents that have sparked concerns regarding the compliance of FTOs with respect to the established aviation regulations and safety protocols.

"The audit will scrutinise each FTO’s adherence to DGCA’s regulatory standards, including aircraft maintenance, airworthiness, and training operations," the release said.

Additionally, the audit will closely examine the maintenance schedules and operational supervision of the aircraft used for training to make sure that all training aircraft are kept in top condition and that safety is never compromised.

Special Safety audit aims to enforce corrective measures where necessary, enhancing the overall safety and effectiveness of flight training in India.

The last such special audit was conducted in 2022.