DGCA finds serious safety concerns at 2 flying training schools, operation stopped

Aviation regulator DGCA has stopped operations of two flying training schools due to serious safety concerns, an official statement said on Saturday. The two schools are Chimes Aviation Academy in Madhya Pradesh and NMIMS Academy of Aviation in Maharashtra, it said. Chimes Aviation Academy (CAA) had in February last year inked an agreement with the country's largest airline IndiGo for cadet pilot programme. "In one case (Chimes), it has been stopped till such time the runway is suitable for flying operations. During inspection, it was observed that it had loose gravel and uneven surface and was unsafe for flying," said the statement by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

In the second case (NMIMS), it was observed that three aircraft of a flying school had dysfunctional fuel gauge indicators and they were still being operated, it said. "The flying operations at this school (NMIMS) has been stopped for three weeks. It will be allowed to operate only when things are in order," the regulator noted.

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The DGCA said it has stopped "flying operations" at these two schools, which are located in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, respectively, due to the aforementioned "serious safety concerns". In its statement earlier, the aviation regulator had said it has stopped "flying operations" at the two schools located in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat due to "serious safety concerns".

The DGCA had on June 16 had said it has audited 30 out of the total 32 flying training organisations (FTOs) in India since March 21 and found them violating multiple safety regulations. The regulator had found in the audit that "the facilities at the airfield/training organization are not being maintained as per the requirements, runway surface was found worn out, wind sock was found torn or nonstandard."

The pre-flight alcohol test regulations were not followed at multiple FTOs, the audit had found. "Few of the instructors, student pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers did not undergo BA (breathalyser) test or submit undertaking prior to commencement of duty/exercise of privileges," the audit had stated.

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