Akasa Air Gets DGCA Show-Cause Notice Over Operations Manual Violation
Earlier, the DGCA issued a show-cause notice to one of Akasa Air's aircraft maintenance engineers after finding 'poor maintenance standards and certification' and 'lapses' during a spot check.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has slapped a second show-cause notice on Akasa Air in less than a week over alleged non-compliance of operations manual norms, according to people aware of the matter.
Based on the submissions of SNV Aviation Pvt., which runs Akasa Air, the DGCA found that the airline's operations manual revision cycle surpassed the six-month timeline. This delay is in violation of specific provisions outlined in the Civil Aviation Requirements, they told NDTV Profit on the condition of anonymity.
The show-cause notice also states that the director of flight operations for the airline failed to ensure compliance with the CAR. The aviation safety regulator has given 15 days to the airline to respond, they said.
Responding to NDTV Profit's query on the notice, an Akasa Air spokesperson said the DGCA "raised certain findings, for which they have issued a notice for clarification from Akasa Air's flight operations team".
The airline is "working closely with the DGCA" to clarify this issue and enhance its operational protocols as required by the regulator, the spokesperson said in a statement.
Days ago, the regulator issued a show-cause notice to one of Akasa Air's aircraft maintenance engineers after finding "poor maintenance standards and certification" and "lapses" during a spot check at the Bengaluru airport.
"During the spot check by this office on 30.08.2024 at KIAL airport, Bangalore it was observed that the right-hand nose wheel tire pressure indicator system sensor on aircraft VT-YAY was re-installed by certifying staff... He had failed to do the positive locking of the system's sensor," the DGCA said in the show-cause notice dated Dec. 9.
The Rakesh Jhunjhunwala family-invested airline has been under intense scrutiny regarding its compliance. In October, the regulator also imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Akasa Air for certain lapses in pilot training following a spot audit in May and a subsequent show-cause notice issued in August.
The newest entrant in the aviation market is also facing a pushback from its own pilots. A group of Akasa Air pilots wrote to the Civil Aviation Minister, K Rammohan Naidu on Dec. 11 seeking an independent probe into the airline's management practice, training methods, and safety standards. Alleging unfair training practices, harassment, and safety concerns, they stated that 84 pilots resigned on a one-day notice. The airline has, however, categorically denied these allegations.
Akasa Air, which started operating commercial flights in August 2022, has 26 planes in its fleet. The budget carrier, which flies to 27 destinations, including five international cities, had a domestic market share of 4.5% in October. It has around 4,300 employees, including about 800 pilots.
