Aviation Safety in India

GS II-Governance

A series of deadly plane crashes in December 2024, including the Jeju Air disaster, have raised concerns about aviation safety, claiming numerous lives.

Overview of Civil Aviation in India

India’s civil aviation sector has seen rapid expansion over the past three years. It can be categorized into:

• Scheduled air transport services: Includes both domestic and international airlines.
• Non-scheduled air transport services: Comprises chartered flight operators and air taxi services.
• Air cargo services: Facilitates the transportation of cargo and mail.

Regulatory Bodies for Aviation Safety

• Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The primary regulatory authority overseeing air transport services, enforcing safety norms, and ensuring airworthiness in coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS): Ensures air transport security.
• Airports Authority of India (AAI): Manages airport operations and infrastructure development.
• Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA): Regulates airport service charges and monitors performance standards.
• Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB): Investigates aviation accidents to enhance safety measures.

Current Status of India’s Civil Aviation Sector

Aspect	Details
Growth & Market Size	India is the world’s third-largest aviation market, expected to become the second-largest by 2030.
Passenger Traffic	341 million passengers handled in FY 2023-24, including both domestic and international travelers.
Fleet Size	Over 700 aircraft in operation, projected to exceed 1,200 by 2030.
Regulatory Authority	Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Airport Infrastructure	148 operational airports, with expansion plans to reach 220 airports by 2025 (UDAN initiative) and 300 by 2047.
UDAN Scheme	Launched to enhance connectivity to underserved regions.
Employment Contribution	4 million jobs supported directly and indirectly, fostering economic growth.
Cargo Traffic	3.4 million metric tons handled in FY 2023-24, vital for e-commerce and exports.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)	Allows up to 100% FDI in scheduled air transport services (49% via automatic route).

Major Aviation Safety Concerns

1. Runway Safety Issues – Over 50% of aviation accidents occur during takeoff or landing, with incidents such as the 2024 Air India taxiway error at Goa’s Mopa airport and past accidents in Kozhikode (2020) and Mangaluru (2010).
2. Bird Strikes – Can cause severe engine damage or windshield failure, suspected in the 2024 South Korea crash. Airports near landfills or areas with poor wildlife management are more prone to such incidents.
3. Pilot Fatigue – Leads to impaired decision-making; a survey among Indian airline pilots indicated long duty hours and inadequate rest periods as key contributors to fatigue-related errors.
4. Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) – Occurs when a functioning aircraft collides with terrain due to pilot misjudgment, as seen in the 2023 Nepal crash.
5. Air Traffic Control (ATC) Challenges – Increased air traffic demands advanced navigation systems and skilled personnel. India faces an ATC manpower shortage, as highlighted in a parliamentary report.
6. Loss of Control In-Flight (LOC-I) – Occurs due to technical malfunctions, weather conditions, or pilot error, as seen in the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
7. Adverse Weather Conditions – Turbulence, thunderstorms, and icing contribute to around 20% of global aviation incidents.
8. Ground Handling Errors – Poor cargo loading, maintenance lapses, and ground service equipment issues cost the aviation industry billions annually.

Comparison: Aviation vs Other Modes of Transport

• Aviation: The safest mode of transport, with a fatality rate of 0.03 deaths per million flights (IATA 2023). A person would need to fly daily for over 103,000 years to experience a fatal accident.
• Road Transport: The most dangerous, with 3.1 deaths per billion passenger-kilometers and 1.3 million fatalities worldwide each year (WHO 2023).
• Railways: Safer than road travel, with 0.07 deaths per billion passenger-kilometers, though train collisions like the 2023 Odisha crash can be catastrophic.

Key Organizations in Global Aviation Safety

• International Air Transport Association (IATA): Founded in 1945, representing over 330 airlines and setting industry standards. Headquarters: Montreal, Canada.
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): A UN agency established in 1944, overseeing global air navigation standards. Headquarters: Montreal, Canada.

Initiatives for Aviation Safety in India

1. DGCA Oversight and Audits (1997): Routine safety inspections of airlines, airports, and ground handling operations.
2. National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP) 2024-2028: Aligns with ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) to enhance safety standards.
3. UDAN Scheme Compliance (2016): Ensures safety assessments at newly developed airports.
4. Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) Regulations (2011): Establishes rest requirements for pilots to prevent fatigue-induced errors.
5. Wildlife and Bird Strike Prevention (2014): Introduces hazard management programs at airports.
6. GAGAN Navigation System (2015): An ISRO-AAI initiative that enhances navigation and landing accuracy.
7. Collaboration with ICAO and IATA: India participates in global safety audits and pilot training initiatives.
8. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) (2011): Conducts independent crash investigations and safety assessments.

Global Aviation Safety Standards Adopted by India

• ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs): Established in 1947, covering aviation safety, navigation, and security.
• IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) (2003): Evaluates airline management and safety operations, mandatory for IATA members.
• Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) (1997): Focuses on reducing runway incidents, CFIT, and LOC-I accidents.
• Flight Duty Time Limitations (ICAO, 2011): Sets work-hour limits to prevent pilot fatigue.
• Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) (1996): Alerts pilots to terrain obstacles, reducing CFIT cases.
• Advanced Navigation Systems:
  • ADS-B (2007): Enables real-time aircraft tracking, fully operational in India since 2014.
  • GAGAN (2015): GPS-based navigation for improved flight safety and precision.

Global Collaboration for Safety

• Aviation Safety Reporting: Programs like ASIAS (USA, 2007) use data analytics to prevent accidents.
• Runway Safety Programs: Initiatives such as GAPPRE (2021) focus on minimizing runway-related incidents.