- Any means of transportation is crucial to sustaining the economy and the intended progression of a country needs no elaboration. With the advancement in the mobility technology aspects around the world, a huge emphasis is laid on ensuring the different transportation requirements are addressed to desired satisfaction of the concerned. Yes, we know road, sea, and air are the three modes of transportation available which are always accorded significant attention by the governments. As you are aware, freight movement and customer movement are equally crucial cogs in the nation’s development agenda. Thus, both are required to be performing their tasks on the expected lines without compromising on safety and security necessities.
PC: The.Ismaili
- Needless to mention, endevours to ensure all-important safety requirements should be pursued on a perpetual basis without showing any signs of laxity or complacency. For what we are looking at here is the very survival of commuters whose lives are at stake. Despite monumental efforts at introducing safety measures, sporadic incidents of concern are reported during the different transportation modes, especially air travel. Worryingly, such incidents are showing an increasing trend which should be addressed forthwith by the regulatory authority. In this case, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Recently, a SpiceJet flight operating the Goa-Hyderabad route made an emergency landing at its destination following smoke in the aircraft.
- People in the know would recollect that the airline has a troubled safety record of late which forced the aviation regulator in August to cap its flights at 50% of its summer schedule departures. Before imposing the cap, DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to the airline after reviewing a series of safety incidents beginning in April. Following the review, DGCA concluded that the airline had poor internal safety oversight and inadequate maintenance. Juxtapose DGCA’s conclusions on SpiceJet’s safety review with GOI’s assessment of air accidents since 2016. In response to a Rajya Sabha question in March, GOI said the main reasons for accidents were the failure of the cockpit crew to stick to SOPs, technical defects, weather, and ATC.
PC: OpIndia Staff
- Thus, SpiceJet’s recurring safety problems beg questions about DGCA’s approach. Keep in mind a DGCA financial assessment of SpiceJet in 2021 showed that as the airline’s suppliers had not been paid regularly, there was a shortage of spares. Moreover, the airline had not regularly deposited statutory dues such as PF. Remember, SpiceJet has a market share of about 8% with the highest passenger load factor reported at around 84.6% in July and August. Following the latest incident, DGCA has ordered an investigation and subsequently should crack the whip to ensure safety issues are not compromised one bit. If it entails penalizing, suspending, or grounding a certain amount of routes, so bit it. The safety of passengers matters the most, nothing else.
