DGCA May Audit Pilot Training Records as AAIB Seeks Stricter Flight Safety Measures

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has recommended additional aviation safety measures, including a possible one-time audit of fixed-wing pilots’ training records by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), following an accident involving a VSR Ventures Learjet 45XR at Mumbai airport in September 2023.

The accident occurred on September 14, 2023, when the aircraft, operating a non-scheduled flight from Visakhapatnam, crashed while landing at Mumbai airport. All eight occupants, comprising six passengers and two crew members, sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.

In its final report, the AAIB identified the crew’s decision to continue an unstabilised approach in marginal weather and inappropriate aircraft handling as the probable cause. These factors led to an aerodynamic stall at low altitude, from which the aircraft did not recover.

The report identified several contributing factors, including the crew’s failure to respond appropriately to a rising low-speed warning, a delayed go-around call by the pilot monitoring, a strong tailwind and reduced visual cues due to marginal weather. The crew’s commitment to landing before the airport’s restricted operating time was also cited.

The AAIB recommended that the DGCA consider checking pilots’ training records, particularly at non-scheduled and general aviation operators, to verify that all mandatory simulator exercises have been completed. It also proposed including stall-recovery exercises in landing configuration, covering full stalls or activation of the stall-warning device during climb, cruise, approach and landing.

The regulator was advised to issue directions requiring operators to establish procedures for completing mandatory training, including critical emergency exercises, and periodically verify training records.

The report also called for stricter adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs), including initiating a go-around whenever an approach is not stabilised. VSR Ventures was advised to reinforce cockpit challenge-and-response checklists and ensure aircraft systems are correctly configured before operations.

The company was also advised to maintain technical and airframe logbooks with all required entries. Separately, the Airports Authority of India was urged to sensitise air traffic controllers to maintain prescribed aircraft separation to mitigate wake turbulence.

The AAIB further recommended that the DGCA examine the effectiveness of internal audits at non-scheduled and general aviation operators during regulatory inspections and surveillance.