India’s Aviation Sector Needs to Address Safety Concerns

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure

Context

• The recent crash of Air India Flight, en route to London Gatwick, in Ahmedabad has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry and the nation demanding to address the safety related concerns.

About the India’s Aviation Sector

• India is the third-largest domestic aviation market globally, trailing only the U.S. and China.
• India’s skies are busier than ever, with over 240 million passengers flying annually, a number projected to reach 500 million by 2030.
• India is expanding its cargo capacity, aiming to triple freight movement from 3.5 million to 10 million metric tons annually by 2030.

Global Standing of India

• According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), India’s aviation operations and airworthiness rank above global averages, with an Effective Implementation score of 85.65%, up from 69.95% in 2018.
• India outperformed both the U.S. and China in categories like airworthiness and operations, reflecting significant regulatory improvements.
• Recently, India was recognised to be one of the largest aviation markets at the 81st International Air Transport Association and World Air Transport Summit in New Delhi.
• The upcoming Wings India 2026 Event aims to serve as a vision statement for India’s aviation leadership, focusing on design, manufacturing, inclusivity, innovation, and safety.

Concerns of Safety and Security

• Regulatory Oversight and Crisis Management: India’s aviation regulatory body, the DGCA, has faced criticism for reactive enforcement rather than proactive safety measures.
  • Regulatory enforcement is reactive, often taking place only after a serious lapse.
• Overburdened Regulatory Framework: According to an ICAO audit, India lags behind global standards in technical personnel per aircraft ratio.
  • Pilots work longer hours with reduced rest, raising fatigue-induced error risks.
• Aircraft Safety and Maintenance: Concerns regarding load planning, ambient air temperature, engine performance, and wing surface settings.
• Infrastructure and Airport Expansion: Reports indicate inadequate screening procedures, cyber threats, and lapses in baggage handling.
  • Additionally, the proximity of urban development to airports has raised concerns about ground safety risks.
• According to the Standing Committee report on safety concerns in India’s civil aviation sector are vacancies in air traffic control, navigation technology at airports like Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), lower budget allocation to Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) etc.
• Other persistent challenges include:
  • High operational costs and fuel prices
  • Infrastructure bottlenecks at major airports
  • Environmental sustainability amid rapid expansion

Key Efforts In Aviation Sector in India

• Rapid Expansion and Infrastructure Development: India has doubled its number of operational airports from 74 in 2014 to 160 by 2025, including heliports and water aerodromes.
  • Major expansion projects include Varanasi Airport and new civil enclaves at Bihta (Patna) and Bagdogra.
• Digital Transformation: The Digi Yatra app enables seamless travel using facial recognition technology, enhancing security and efficiency.
  • The eGCA platform has digitized nearly 300 aviation services, streamlining regulatory processes.
• Policy and Industry Growth:
  • Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam (2024) aims to modernize aviation laws and boost indigenous manufacturing.
  • The Protection of Interest in Aircraft Objects Bill grants legal authority to the Cape Town Convention and Protocol (2001), strengthening aircraft leasing and financing.
• National Aviation Safety Plan (2024-28): It provides strategic direction for the management of aviation safety in India. It contains the five National Goals:
  • Goal 1: To achieve a continuous reduction of operational safety risks
  • Goal 2: To strengthen safety oversight capabilities
  • Goal 3: Implementation of effective State Safety Programme.
  • Goal 4: Increase collaboration at international level
  • Goal 5: Expand the use of industry programmes and safety information sharing networks by service providers.

Way Forward

• Strengthening Safety Regulations & Emergency Preparedness: There is a need to overhaul the DGCA into a more autonomous and technically capable body similar to the FAA (USA) or EASA (Europe).
• Improving Aircraft Maintenance and Checks: Routine maintenance should go beyond minimum regulatory requirements.
  • Airlines need to focus on proactive safety measures, ensuring that no mechanical or technical issue is overlooked.
• Crisis Management and Response Protocols: Emergency teams should conduct regular drills to improve efficiency in disaster response and aid the affected communities more effectively.
  • Simulated crisis scenarios should be more frequent, and pilots must be equipped with the best possible decision-making skills to react effectively under pressure.
• Data-Driven Monitoring: Introduce nationwide real-time aircraft health monitoring systems (similar to FOQA—Flight Operational Quality Assurance programs).
• Learning from Global Best Practices: India can take inspiration from other nations with strong aviation safety records, implementing policies that have proven effective worldwide.
  • Countries like Singapore, UAE, and even China have invested heavily in a three-pronged safety framework: proactive regulation, continuous training, and real-time digital surveillance of aircraft health and operations.

Source: TH