DGCA show cause to Akasa for no corrective training to captain post hard landing at Bangalore

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to Akasa Air for reportedly not providing corrective training to a pilot-in-command (PIC) after a flight operated by him made a hard landing.

During a regulatory audit of the airline conducted in Mumbai last month, the regulator discovered the same for a Bagdogra-Bangalore flight (QP 1851) operated on a Boeing 737 MAX (VT-YAE) on March 5, 2024.

“The incident was closed with a counselling session only without any corrective training being imparted to the PIC,” the regulator has found and issued the notice to the airline, asking it to reply within 14 days.

Comments were sought from Akasa on this issue and awaited till the time going to press.

Sources say the aircraft had made a hard landing. “It bounced after touching down. The pilot then pressed the take off go around (TOGA) button to take off and land in a second attempt. TOGA was then rejected and the aircraft went on to land,” said sources. Comments were sought from Akasa on this too and were awaited.

Incidentally last month the regulator had fined Akasa Rs 30 lakh for alleged non-compliance of rules in its training procedures for pilots. The regulator had on May 20, 2024, conducted a spot check at Akasa’s Gurgaon HQ and then subsequently issued a show cause notice to the airline.

The DGCA allows airlines to train its pilots at their establishments which are approved by the regulator. Airlines can also conduct some exams there and the regulator accepts results of the same. However, in the case of Akasa, the spot checks revealed some alleged deficiencies in this field. After giving time to the airline to respond and studying the same, the DGCA had on October 17 issued an order, directing the airline head of training to deposit Rs 30 lakh as a fine within a month.