India’s skies are busier than ever—but as air traffic soars, serious safety challenges are taking off too. A recent parliamentary report (post the tragic Air India Express AI-171 crash) casts a spotlight on urgent reforms needed across aviation safety. Here’s what students should remember—clear, concise, and exam-ready.

1. DGCA Under Strain

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is grappling with major manpower gaps—only about 50% of positions are filled, and high attrition leaves critical knowledge in limbo.

• Low salaries and lack of autonomy make hiring and retention tough. Without modern reforms, India risks failing ICAO safety audits, affecting international flight operations.

2. Overworked Air Traffic Control (ATC)

• Many Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) work grueling shifts under severe fatigue, especially as merged control sectors during night hours increase workload.

• The report urges a Fatigue Risk Management System, limits on duty-time exemptions, and expanded ATC training programs to alleviate delays and fatigue-related risks.

3. Weak Safety Enforcement

• Thousands of safety issues remain unaddressed. Enforcement often ends up as a checkbox exercise, rather than a deterrent.

• Recommendations include setting strict timelines for fixes, tougher penalties (like fines and license cancellations), and independent audits to ensure real improvement.

4. Helicopter Oversight Gaps

• Oversight of helicopter operations—especially for pilgrimages or high-altitude flights—is fragmented. States often manage these with limited DGCA control.

• The report advocates for a central regulatory framework, terrain-specific pilot training, and a dedicated DGCA monitoring cell for helicopters.

5. Recurring Operational Hazards

• Incidents like runway incursions and near-midair collisions are rising, despite investigations. Learning from these events remains lacking.

• The fix? Conduct root-cause analyses for each incident, launch airport-specific improvement plans, and speed up installation of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and fog-navigation aids.

6. Whistleblower Protections & Safety Culture

• A harsh, punitive environment deters people from reporting hazards. Fear of fines or repercussions persists.

• The committee recommends embracing “just culture”—separating honest mistakes from negligence—and legally secure anonymized whistleblower protections to foster trust and transparency.

7. Heavy Reliance on Foreign MRO Services

• Roughly 85% of heavy aircraft maintenance is outsourced abroad, costing Indian airlines a staggering ₹15,000 crore annually.

• To cut costs and strengthen resilience, reforms include reducing import duties on parts, encouraging local MRO hubs, and launching a national aviation skill mission to boost domestic expertise.

8. Governance Risk in Airports Authority (AAI)

• A crucial oversight: the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Board has no dedicated member for Air Traffic Control.

• Filling this role is essential for strong safety governance and forward-looking planning.

Conclusion – Why It Matters:

• India’s booming aviation sector is at a crossroads. Strengthening DGCA staffing, enforcing safety reforms, improving oversight, and building local expertise are not just policy needs—they’re aviation lifelines.

• For UPSC, SSC, or any competitive exam, these eight pointers make for high-yield answers: fresh, concise, and rooted in real-world challenges.