The nationwide aviation watchdog has fined Air India Rs 80 lakh for violation of norms associated to flight responsibility time limitations (FDTL) and fatigue administration system of flight crew. The violations had been flagged after the Directorate Common of Civil Aviation (DGCA), carried out a spot audit in January.

Following this, a show-cause discover was despatched to Air India on March 1.

Pursuant to a non-satisfactory response by the operator, the high-quality of Rs 80 lakh was imposed, the DGCA stated in its assertion.

“Evaluation of studies and proof revealed Air India Restricted operated flight(s) with each flight crew aged above 60 years… in (a) few cases, which is a violation of Sub Rule (2) of Rule 28 A of the Plane Guidelines, 1937,” the DGCA assertion stated.

“The operator was additionally discovered poor in offering ample weekly relaxation, ample relaxation earlier than and after ultra-long vary (ULR) flights, and ample relaxation on layover to flight crew, which violates the extant provisions of the Civil Aviation Necessities pertaining to FDTL,” the watchdog stated.

Cases of pilots exceeding responsibility intervals and being wrongly marked on coaching information, in addition to overlapping of duties, had been additionally noticed in the course of the audit, the DGCA stated.

The watchdog careworn that it’s “dedicated to sustaining the very best ranges of security within the civil aviation sector in India and this enforcement motion is in step with its dedication”.