Rs 20 Lakh Penalty For Air Asia After Lapses Found In Pilots' Training

AirAsia (India) Ltd has been fined Rs 20 lakh by the aviation regulator DGCA after its surveillance operation found that a few mandatory exercises of the pilots of the airline were not done during Pilot Proficiency Check/Instrument Rating check (which is an International Civil Aviation Organization requirement) as per schedule, resulting in violation of DGCA regulations.

The airline's Head of Training was also removed from his position for three months "for failing to discharge his duties as per applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements". Further, eight designated examiners have been fined Rs 3 lakh each for the same.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, or DGCA, had issued show cause notices to the concerned manager, head of training, and all designated examiners of Air Asia as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for lack of oversight of their regulatory obligations. Their written replies were examined, and action taken on its basis.

This is the third enforcement action against a Tata Group airline in over a month.

AirAsia India, in a statement, said it is reviewing the DGCA order and considering an appeal against it.

"We acknowledge that a finding related to training exercises of pilots was observed by the DGCA following the main base inspection in November 2022. Immediate corrective action was taken in coordination with DGCA and additional simulator training sessions to address the gap were implemented," an AirAsia spokesperson said in the statement.

AirAsia spokesperson said the airline has already conducted mandatory exercises of the pilots as part of a simulator training done beyond the mandated regulatory training requirements.

"We wish to reiterate that there is no deviation from the safety margins required for our operations. Nonetheless, we are reviewing the DGCA order and are considering making an appeal as per available regulatory provisions," AirAsia India said.