India civil aviation regulator, The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has started a two-month-long special audit of airlines following a rise in airline incidences that caused flight diversions and other incidents.
The special audit will include spot checks that will focus on the availability of sufficient and suitably qualified and experienced manpower, including training and duty time limitation and facilities such as hangers, stores, spares, consumables, special tools and equipment. It will check maintenance data for all types of aircraft in the fleet, quality assurance system (for conducting internal audits and quality assessments), aircraft grounded due to lack of spares, the multiple minimum equipment list (MEL) and the maintenance control centre.
Adequacy of turn-around time during transit — through spot checks and implementation of the PIB recommendations (engineering related) — is also included in the focus area of the special audit.
The DGCA has also issued a directive to airlines to strictly adhere to the laid-down guidelines regarding the certification process and gave the airlines a 10-day deadline to fall in line.
The DGCA officials said the special audit will be completed within the next two months.