Civil Aviation Safety Agency Says Airline's Safety Records Are 'Lax'

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation is raising questions about the safety records of two of the country's airlines ... IndiGo and Air India Express. A recent financial report from the DGCA finds that the airlines are guilty of serious safety violations.

While the report found that all of India's airlines had some issues, the DGCA was particularly critical of IndiGo and Air India Express. The Financial Times of India reports that the audit was done by the agency to determine if growing financial difficulties were causing airlines to cut corners. It calls for a review of IndiGo's engine modification practices on short-haul aircraft such as the A320 to allow them to be used for international flights. The agency reportedly found that there have been  "large numbers of premature engine removals" in the first three quarters of 2011.

IndiGo said the engine removals were not a safety issue, and were done in compliance with FAA standards.

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said Sunday that the government would not tolerate violations of safety standards. "There will be no compromise on air safety," he told reporters at a news conference.

Singh singled out Air India Express and Kingfisher for what he said was ignoring safety requirements. Other airlines have been shown to have issues with lack of pilots and proper regular training, and non-compliance with safety audits.

FMI: http://dgca.nic.in/