Indian airspace in 2023 witnessed a noteworthy decrease in both unstabilized flight approaches and risk-bearing airprox incidents, according to a recent report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DGCA's annual safety review highlights a significant improvement in aviation safety metrics for the past year.
The report reveals a 23% reduction in unstabilized approaches per ten thousand landings. This improvement is crucial as it lowers the risk of runway excursions and abnormal runway contacts, enhancing overall landing safety.
Additionally, risk-bearing airprox incidents, which involve aircraft coming dangerously close to each other, decreased by 25% per million flights. This reduction underscores a safer operating environment within Indian airspace.
Another notable achievement is the 92% drop in GPWS (Ground Proximity Warning System) and EGPWS (Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System) warnings per ten thousand departures. This dramatic decrease indicates a lower risk of controlled flight into terrain, aligning with safety targets set for the year.
The DGCA’s National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP), which follows the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP), was evaluated based on safety performance indicators and targets. The Annual Safety Review (ASR) assesses this data and includes safety information from both the DGCA database and external sources like ICAO iSTARS.
The DGCA's review reflects a continued commitment to enhancing aviation safety and reducing risks in Indian airspace.
On August 29, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced that budget airline SpiceJet has been placed under 'enhanced surveillance' effective immediately. This measure is intended to increase the frequency of spot checks and night monitoring to ensure the airline meets safety standards. "Due to SpiceJet's past performance and the recent special audit conducted in August 2024, the airline is now under enhanced surveillance. This will involve more frequent spot checks and night surveillance to ensure operational safety."
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