Context:

The Air India crash in Ahmedabad (June 2025) has renewed focus on India’s aviation safety framework. A preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) remains inconclusive, underscoring deeper regulatory, structural, and operational flaws in the country’s aviation ecosystem.

India’s Aviation Sector: An Overview

• Size & Scale:
  • 3rd largest domestic aviation market globally
  • 350+ million annual passengers (2024)
  • Daily air traffic surpassed 5 lakh passengers
• Growth Trends (2024):
  • Domestic traffic: ↑ 5.9%
  • International traffic: ↑ 11.4%
• Women Pilots:
  • India has the highest global proportion (13–18%) of female commercial pilots
• Green Airports:
  • Only 80 airports operate on renewable energy despite rapid expansion

Importance of the Aviation Sector

Challenges to Aviation Safety

1. Regulatory Shortcomings
   • DGCA lacks technical autonomy; dependent on FAA/EASA norms
   • Limited indigenous expertise hinders proactive regulation
2. Airspace Obstruction
   • Over 1,000 vertical violations reported near Mumbai airport alone
   • Legal exemptions have diluted statutory height and buffer regulations
3. Pilot and Crew Fatigue
   • Airlines exploit Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) through exemptions
   • Whistle-blowers face retaliation, discouraging internal reporting
4. Maintenance Gaps
   • Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) overworked, unregulated shifts
   • Under-qualified technicians used to reduce costs, risking mechanical safety
5. ATC Shortages
   • Chronic lack of trained Air Traffic Controllers
   • Reforms proposed after the Mangalore crash remain pending
6. Infrastructure Overreach
   • Unchecked high-rises around airports compromise safety buffer zones

Way Forward

1. Independent Aviation Safety Regulator
   • Create a body outside the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) for neutral oversight
   • Ensure independence in accident investigations and safety audits
2. Reinstate Obstacle Regulations
   • Enforce height limits via Aircraft Act, 1934 and S.O. 988 notifications
   • Conduct regular GIS-based obstacle mapping near airport zones
3. Whistle-blower Protection Mechanism
   • Provide legal immunity and secure reporting channels
   • Institutionalize internal safety feedback systems
4. AME & ATCO Reform
   • Mandate global-standard duty-hour ceilings
   • Increase training institutes and licensing reforms to address shortages
5. Global Best Practices with Local Adaptation
   • Align with ICAO and FAA protocols
   • Ensure customised application suited to Indian operational realities
6. Transparent Crash Inquiries
   • Publish timely, public accident reports
   • Use crash data to drive regulatory reform and training curricula

Conclusion

Aviation safety must evolve from being a compliance checklist to a non-negotiable national priority. With increasing passenger volume, air routes, and international linkages, India must urgently overhaul its aviation safety framework—not just for global reputation, but to protect human lives. True progress will be marked not by traffic numbers, but by the safety with which people reach their destinations.