The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recently taken action against Akasa Air, suspending a senior pilot and other officials for varying durations due to safety and training lapses. These actions highlight the DGCA's commitment to maintaining stringent aviation safety standards and ensuring regulatory compliance.
On August 6, 2025, the DGCA suspended the approval of a senior Akasa Air pilot to act as a designated examiner for a period of six months. This decision was prompted by procedural violations observed during pilot assessments. In addition to the suspension, the DGCA has also nullified a skill test of a trainee pilot that was conducted by the suspended examiner and has ordered a retest. The regulator warned the senior pilot to adhere to regulatory compliances and standards in the future. Designated examiners are authorized to conduct skill tests and proficiency checks for pilots, ensuring they meet competency levels for licensing and ratings. The DGCA's action impacts Akasa Air's internal training and examination processes.
In late December 2024, the DGCA suspended two senior Akasa Air executives, the Director of Training and the Director of Flight Operations, for six months each, due to lapses in pilot training. An audit conducted in October 2024 revealed that pilots were being trained on navigation approaches using a simulator that was not certified for such procedures. The DGCA deemed this a violation of its rules and issued a show cause notice to the airline, but found Akasa Air's response unsatisfactory. The regulator has directed Akasa Air to nominate suitable replacements for these positions.
Furthermore, in January 2025, the DGCA withdrew the Line Training Captain approval and Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) privileges from another Akasa Air pilot. This action stemmed from a hard landing incident involving the pilot in March 2024. The DGCA's investigation revealed that the incident was closed with a counseling session, and no corrective training was imparted to the pilot. Finding the responses from the airline and the pilot to the show cause notices unsatisfactory, the DGCA decided to withdraw the approvals. The pilot is required to undergo corrective training.
In October 2024, the DGCA imposed a fine of ₹30 lakh on Akasa Air for conducting practical training for technical instructors and pilots without the necessary approvals, exceeding permissible training hours, and appointing examiners not qualified for low visibility flight operations. Akasa Air also faced a show cause notice for non-compliance with the operations manual, which had exceeded its revision cycle. In another instance, the airline was penalized ₹10 lakh for failing to compensate seven passengers who were denied boarding on a Bengaluru-Pune flight in September.
These actions by the DGCA reflect a rigorous approach to aviation safety and regulatory compliance. The regulator's prompt responses to выявленным lapses and violations underscore its commitment to maintaining high standards within the aviation industry.
