• Air India's latest audit reveals 51 safety violations, including inadequate training and use of unapproved simulators.
• The findings come after a deadly crash in Ahmedabad that raised concerns about Air India's safety practices.
• The DGCA reported seven critical "Level I" findings requiring prompt resolution.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has identified a total of 51 safety lapses within Air India's operations during its July audit. This includes serious issues such as insufficient pilot training, the use of unauthorized flight simulators, and a flawed rostering system, according to a government report reviewed by Reuters and Dawn.

These audit findings are particularly concerning given the airline's heightened scrutiny following a tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 last month in Ahmedabad, which resulted in the deaths of 260 individuals, as highlighted by BBC. Although the audit is unrelated to the crash, it emphasizes ongoing issues within Air India, which has recently received multiple warning notices for operational lapses, including running flights without proper inspections and failing to replace crucial engine parts in a timely manner according to IndiaTimes.

The DGCA's report, spanning 11 pages, highlights seven "Level I" violations deemed significant and requiring immediate corrective action by July 30, alongside an additional 44 compliance issues that need addressing by August 23. These findings indicate that Air India pilots for the Boeing 787 and 777 have recurrent training gaps and have not fulfilled their required monitoring duties ahead of mandatory evaluations, as noted by Reuters, Dawn, and IndiaTimes.

The audit also pointed out that Air India failed to conduct proper assessments of specific Category C airports, which can pose significant safety challenges due to their complex layouts. The DGCA's findings reveal that Air India conducted training for these airports using simulators that did not meet required standards, a lapse that could compromise safety during landing approaches, according to BBC, Reuters, and IndiaTimes.

Adding to the concerns, Air India pilots have been reported to exceed their flight duty limits. For instance, a recent AI-787 flight exceeded the permissible limit by over two hours, classified as a "Level I" violation. Additionally, the airline's rostering system does not provide adequate alerts for flights that are inadequately staffed, leading to international flights operating with insufficient cabin crew, indicating systemic issues with crew management as highlighted by BBC and IndiaTimes.

In response to the audit, Air India expressed that it has been fully transparent during the audit process and plans to submit a comprehensive response to the DGCA, detailing the corrective measures it intends to implement within the specified timeframe. This commitment was reiterated in statements made to Reuters and Dawn.