DGCA issues show cause notice to Akasa Air on violation related to operations manual

Overview

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India has issued a show-cause notice to Akasa Air due to violations concerning the airline’s operations manual. The notice comes after it was reported that the airline’s manual revision cycle exceeded the mandatory six-month timeframe. This follows a previous notice issued this month regarding various concerns about maintenance practices and pilot safety training.

The DGCA has formally notified Akasa Air regarding a show-cause notice for breaching regulations outlined in its operations manual. Sources indicate that the airline has not complied with the required six-month revision cycle for its operations manual.

This month marks the issuance of at least two show-cause notices to Akasa Air, which commenced its operations in August 2022.

The regulator discovered that the revision cycle for the airline’s operations manual has surpassed the mandated six-month period, breaching certain provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).

The notice issued on December 16 highlights that the Director of Flight Operations did not ensure adherence to CAR, prompting the DGCA to seek an explanation from the airline regarding the potential violations.

“The DGCA has raised specific points that necessitate clarification from Akasa Air’s Flight Operations team. We are actively collaborating with the DGCA to address these matters and improve our operational protocols as required,” stated a spokesperson for Akasa Air.

Earlier this month, the DGCA also issued a show-cause notice to one of Akasa Air’s aircraft maintenance engineers for failing to meet acceptable standards of maintenance and certification.

Currently, Akasa Air operates a fleet of 26 aircraft and is facing challenges, with some pilots expressing concerns regarding safety and training procedures.

A letter dated December 11 addressed to the Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu sought an independent inquiry into the management, training practices, and safety standards of Akasa Air.

The letter accused the airline of making misleading claims about maintaining high safety standards.

In response to these allegations, Akasa Air issued a statement on December 12, asserting that the claims were unfounded and did not accurately reflect the views of their pilots. The airline also noted that since October 2023, it has welcomed 324 new pilots, maintaining an annualized attrition rate of less than 1% for this group.

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