House Panel Seeks Reports from DGCA and Stakeholders on Flight Crisis

Context:
The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has sought detailed reports from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other aviation stakeholders following recent flight disruptions and controversies related to the User Development Fee (UDF). The move highlights the role of parliamentary oversight in ensuring accountability in the civil aviation sector.

Key Highlights:

PAC Intervention in Aviation Disruptions:

• The PAC, chaired by K.C. Venugopal, directed DGCA and key aviation bodies to submit reports on:

  • Recent flight crisis and disruptions

  • Operational failures and passenger inconvenience

• Stakeholders present included:

  • Ministry of Civil Aviation

  • DGCA

  • Airports Authority of India (AAI)

  • Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA)

  • Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)

  • Private airlines

Conflicting Claims on Causes of Disruptions:

• Pilot associations argued disruptions were preventable and claimed:

  • Sufficient pilots were available

  • Problems arose from mismanagement or poor planning

• Airlines defended themselves, citing:

  • “External factors” such as weather or ATC delays

  • Issues in the crew roster management system

• Highlights governance challenges in ensuring reliable aviation operations.

Accountability Concerns – DGCA’s Role:

• PAC expressed displeasure over the absence of the DGCA Chairman, underlining the seriousness of regulatory responsibility.

• Raises questions about:

  • Regulatory preparedness

  • Enforcement of passenger protection norms

  • Crisis management in civil aviation

User Development Fee (UDF) Controversy:

• PAC also examined the User Development Fee, levied on passengers for airport infrastructure development.

• A judgment by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) may broaden UDF calculation to include non-aeronautical areas.

• This could result in:

  • Higher costs for passengers

  • Greater financial burden on air travellers

Significance of Parliamentary Oversight:

• PAC’s involvement reflects Parliament’s role in:

  • Monitoring public expenditure

  • Ensuring service accountability

  • Protecting consumer interest in essential infrastructure sectors

Relevant Prelims Points:

• DGCA: Regulatory authority for civil aviation safety, airworthiness, and standards.

• UDF: Passenger fee collected for airport development and maintenance.

• PAC: Parliamentary committee examining government expenditure and accountability.

• TDSAT: Tribunal handling disputes in telecom and certain infrastructure fee matters.

Relevant Mains Points:

• Governance Issues:

  • Need for stronger regulatory oversight in civil aviation

  • Passenger-centric accountability mechanisms

• Economic Dimension:

  • Rising aviation costs due to expanded UDF scope

• Way Forward:

  • Improve crew management and crisis preparedness

  • Transparent UDF calculation norms

  • Strengthen DGCA responsiveness and enforcement

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS 2: Parliamentary committees, governance, accountability

• GS 3: Aviation sector regulation, infrastructure economics

• Prelims: DGCA, UDF, PAC functions