India’s DGCA Issues Notice to Akasa Air Over Pilot Training Lapse

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to Akasa Air for failing to provide corrective training to a pilot involved in a hard landing incident in March. The airline has 14 days to respond, according to reports from the Economic Times.

The March 5 incident occurred during a flight between Bagdogra and Bengaluru International, involving a Boeing 737-8. After a hard touchdown, the aircraft bounced, and the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver but aborted it, ultimately landing safely. A subsequent audit revealed that the case was closed with only a counseling session for the pilot, without mandatory corrective training.

This marks Akasa Air’s second safety-related issue this year. In October, the DGCA fined the airline INR 3 million (USD 35,500) after a spot audit found training irregularities, including conducting practical sessions without regulatory approvals.

Akasa Air, which began operations in August 2022, operates a fleet of 23 Boeing 737-8s and three Boeing 737-8-200s, serving 28 destinations across India and the Middle East, including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The airline has an ambitious order book of 200 Boeing MAX aircraft, underscoring its rapid growth trajectory.

The DGCA’s heightened scrutiny highlights the regulator’s commitment to ensuring operational safety as India’s aviation sector continues to expand. Akasa Air has yet to comment on the matter.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com