India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has introduced a series of enhanced safety measures for Non-Scheduled Operators (NSOPs) following a high-level review meeting convened in response to a recent rise in aviation incidents.
The meeting, attended by representatives of all non-scheduled operators, was held after a comprehensive analysis of accident data from the past decade. The review identified key factors contributing to aircraft accidents in the sector, including non-adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), inadequate flight planning, and gaps in pilot training.
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The renewed focus on safety comes in the wake of multiple fatal crashes involving NSOP aircraft. On Monday, an air ambulance operated by Red Bird Airways crashed in Jharkhand, killing all seven people on board. Earlier in January, an aircraft owned by VSR Ventures went down in Baramati, Maharashtra, resulting in the deaths of all passengers, including senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar.
India has also witnessed several helicopter crashes in recent years, particularly in the Char Dham pilgrimage sector. Notably, all these incidents involved non-scheduled operators.
In response, the DGCA’s latest directives aim to tighten oversight, ensure stricter compliance with operational procedures, and strengthen training and safety audits across the NSOP sector to prevent further tragedies and restore confidence in charter and helicopter operations.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
