The positivity over Indian aviation was shattered by the crash of a chartered aircraft on January 28. Only the previous day, domestic MRO (Major Repair and Overhauling) companies, operators and global manufacturers, at the Business Aviation Conference prior to Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad, projected a 10X growth of aircraft for India. Catastrophic accidents occur whenever any individual undermines the systems in place and ignores the information available. Similarly, the information overload can be prevented by simplifying the process. Safety is a subset of productivity which is a subset of industrial engineering.
The system has to be strengthened through individual, information and safety protocols. For transport safety in general and aviation safety in particular lessons from previous accidents need to be learnt. Surveillance audit by the regulator has to be data driven, automated, focussed on core issues and provide out-of-box solutions to ease the operators’ workload.
Aircraft manufacturers are advised to establish pilot, maintenance engineer training and authorised maintenance centres with reliable spare support for the entire lifecycle of aircraft fleets through local collaborations.
Regulatory reforms
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has established a dedicated helicopters directorate, considering the growth opportunities and safety challenges. The directorate needs to review SOPs, which should be on a par with global standards, and enhance ease of helicopter operations. The induction of officers with Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineers (GATE) qualification and in-house training on the role for which they are going to be employed must be considered.
These officers need to be given international exposure through Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). Courses under USOAP can be conducted for professionals of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Airline Operators by Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The trained officers get an opportunity to audit facilities of other member-states and gain experience in improving their own facilities.
A cadre of technicians is to be created to run the base workshops where the basic material, fuel and black box tests are conducted.
Indian aviation has benefitted greatly from induction of technicians and pilots from the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the 2000-2010 decade. The skills, discipline and commitment of these professionals have immensely contributed in sustaining the growth during the initial phase.
Currently, the phenomenal expansion of the aviation ecosystem requires absorption of these skilled professionals who complete their short-term engagement after 5-10 years in the IAF. It will be a win-win situation for the individuals and for the aviation ecosystem in India.
The writer is Director General, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau
Published on April 7, 2026