Runway Confusion and Repeated Errors
On December 5, 2024, an Air India A320 aborted takeoff at Goa’s Mopa airport after mistakenly entering the parallel taxiway, highlighting runway confusion in India.
This follows a long history of similar incidents, like Jet Airways landing at a military base in 1993, and SpiceJet landing on wrong runways at Delhi (2007) and Kolkata (2008).
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) routinely blames pilot error, while systemic issues, including poor training and infrastructure, are not addressed.
Lack of Accountability and Proactive Measures
Despite a history of accidents, the DGCA and airlines fail to implement long-term safety improvements, leading to recurrent incidents.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandates thorough investigations and corrective actions, but India’s oversight remains inadequate.
In contrast, after a fatal crash in 2000, Singapore Airlines took immediate corrective action, resulting in no major runway confusion incidents since. India has failed to adopt similar reforms.
Training Deficiencies and Crew Pressure
Pilots often lack sufficient knowledge of runway markings, contributing to incidents like landings on wrong runways.
Crew resource management is weak, with pilots ignoring input from co-pilots, as seen in the Kozhikode and Mangaluru crashes.
Pressure to meet on-time performance (OTP) forces pilots to cut corners, neglecting safety protocols, leading to rushed, unsafe decisions.
Airlines fail to prioritize comprehensive safety training, especially regarding stabilized approaches and runway safety.
Regulatory Failures and Safety Concerns
Flight duty time limitations are often violated due to pressure from airline management, increasing the risk of pilot fatigue
DGCA has repeatedly failed to enforce ICAO standards on airport infrastructure and safety audits, covering up major deficiencies.
Court decisions delaying safety improvements, such as negotiating flight time limits, further undermine aviation safety in India.
India’s aviation sector risks serious international reputational damage unless regulators and airlines take immediate corrective actions.
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