As part of its renewed focus on aviation safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has carried out comprehensive surveillance operations at key airports including Delhi and Mumbai. The inspections were conducted during night and early morning hours by two teams led by the Joint Director General, DGCA, following a directive issued on June 19.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in a statement, said the initiative is part of a wider effort to assess and strengthen the aviation ecosystem. The surveillance covered several critical areas: flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, air traffic control (ATC), communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) systems, and pre-flight medical evaluations.
Inspectors closely monitored ground handling, aircraft movements, and maintenance practices. The teams uncovered multiple safety lapses and procedural violations. Key findings included:
- Recurring aircraft defects not being effectively rectified or monitored.
- Unserviceable ground equipment, including baggage trolleys and BFLs.
- Improper tool control and non-compliance with maintenance work orders.
- Critical maintenance oversights, such as failure to lock thrust reverser systems and flap/slat levers, and lack of safety precautions by Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs).
- Technical logbooks not updated with defect reports generated by aircraft systems.
- Improperly secured life vests and damaged corrosion-resistant tape on winglets.
At one airport, officials observed faded runway centre line markings, non-unidirectional green lights on rapid exit taxiways, and outdated obstruction data despite new construction in the vicinity. Additionally, ramp vehicles without speed governors were identified—these were promptly withdrawn, and the drivers’ permits were suspended.
A simulator used for pilot training was also flagged for not matching aircraft configuration and using outdated software.
The DGCA further reported that a scheduled domestic flight was cancelled due to worn-out tyres, and was only cleared for operation after necessary rectifications were made.
All findings have been communicated to the respective operators, who have been directed to implement corrective actions within seven days. The DGCA confirmed that this surveillance drive will continue as part of an ongoing initiative under Order No. DGCA-22034/2/2025-FSD to identify and mitigate systemic safety hazards.
