Aviation safety refers to the policies, practices and systems designed to prevent accidents and protect passengers, crew and aircraft operations. For India, now the third-largest domestic aviation market, handling 376 million passengers in FY24 ensuring aviation safety is essential.
Importance of Aviation safety:
1. Passenger Confidence: A strong safety record reassures passengers and sustains demand. Even isolated accidents can significantly erode confidence and disrupt traffic volumes.
2. Economic Growth: Civil aviation supports over 7.7 million jobs and contributes 1.5% to GDP. Safety lapses lead to fleet groundings, financial losses and job insecurity.
3. Trade, Tourism and Connectivity: Air transport is critical for high-value cargo and tourism. In FY24, Indian airports handled 3.36 MMT of cargo, while safe aviation underpins regional connectivity under UDAN.
4. Global Compliance: As a signatory to the Chicago Convention, India must comply with ICAO SARPs. Maintaining FAA Category-1 status enables Indian airlines to operate and expand globally.
5. Disaster-Response Role: Safe aviation infrastructure is crucial for disaster relief, medical evacuation and national security operations.
Challenges to Aviation safety in India:
1. Infrastructure Congestion: Major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai operate near capacity, increasing risks of runway incursions and delays despite expansion projects such as Navi Mumbai Airport.
2. Air Traffic Management Constraints: Shortage of trained Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) and increasing airspace congestion raise fatigue-related risks.
3. Human Resource Gaps: High training costs, limited quality Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) and shortages of pilots and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) strain safety compliance.
4. MRO Deficit: Underdeveloped domestic MRO ecosystem forces airlines to send aircraft abroad, increasing downtime and costs. Recent engine supply disruptions have grounded up to 15–20% of fleets.
5. Regulatory Issues: Concerns persist over regulatory capacity, delayed accident disclosures and conflicts between commercial pressures and safety enforcement.
Government Initiatives for Aviation safety:
1. Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024:
- Replaces the Aircraft Act, 1934
- It clearly demarcates roles of DGCA (safety regulation), BCAS (security) and AAIB (independent accident investigation)
- Introduces stricter penalties and immediate grounding provisions
2. GAGAN (ISRO–AAI): India’s Satellite-Based Augmentation System improves navigation accuracy and enables precision approaches, especially at difficult terrains.
3. Mandatory Safety Systems: DGCA mandates TCAS, GPWS/EGPWS, and updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms to prevent collisions and fatigue-related incidents.
4. International Cooperation: Participation in ICAO USOAP audits, collaboration with IATA, and retention of FAA Category-1 status reflect global alignment.
Way Forward:
- Strengthen Regulatory Capacity: Recruit and retain skilled personnel in DGCA, AAIB and AAI with continuous training.
- Expand Domestic MRO: Rationalise taxes, attract OEMs and build skilled manpower to reduce foreign dependence.
- Enhance Safety Management Systems (SMS): Shift focus from compliance to performance-based safety oversight.
- Improve Wildlife Hazard Management: Address bird-strike risks through coordinated urban planning near airports.
- Leverage Technology: Use AI-based traffic management and predictive maintenance systems.
Conclusion:
India’s civil aviation sector is growing at an unprecedented pace, with fleet strength expected to rise from 850 aircraft today to 1,100 by 2027. Through regulatory reform, technological adoption and institutional strengthening, India can not only ensure safe skies but also emerge as a global benchmark in aviation safety, aligning with its vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
‘+1’ Value Addition:
- India handled 376 million passengers in FY24, putting sustained pressure on aviation safety systems and regulatory oversight.
- 15–20% of narrow-body aircraft have faced grounding at times due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues.
- Women constitute 15% of India’s pilots, nearly three times the global average.
- 93 airports operate on 100% green energy, improving operational reliability.
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