'Jeopardising Safety': Regulator Warns Airlines Against Allowing People In Cockpit
NDTV
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued the warning after two recent incidents of pilots allowing passengers into the cockpit. Three pilots have been grounded.
After two recent incidents of pilots allowing passengers into the cockpit, the aviation regulator has warned airlines against the practice and said that it may jeopardise the safety of aircraft operations.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked all airlines to sensitise their pilots and cabin crew members to strictly follow a circular on the issue and warned that non-compliance may invite stringent enforcement action. It has also asked airlines to prevent any unauthorised entry in the cockpit "through appropriate means".
In an advisory issued today, the DGCA said incidents of people "having no authority or purpose" being permitted entry into the cockpit have been reported to it in the recent past. "Such an unauthorised presence in the cockpit is likely to distract the attention of cockpit crew from their sensitive functions and can lead to errors which may jeopardise the safety of the aircraft operations," the advisory said.
In April, an Air India pilot was grounded for allowing a female friend to enter and stay in the cockpit for nearly three hours during a flight from Dubai to Delhi in February. The DGCA had also imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on the airline for not taking "prompt and effective" action.
