DGCA meets air operators to discuss upcoming ICAO audit

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The officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) today held a meeting with air operators here to discuss their preparedness for the ICAO audit scheduled to be held later this year.
During the meeting, which lasted for over two hours, the air operators were told to be "current" on procedures and operational manual, among other issues, a source privy to the meeting said.
The DGCA has already commenced a special audit of all scheduled domestic airlines to check their compliance with various safety and airworthiness requirements.
"During the meeting, which lasted for over two hours, the air operators were directed to be ready for the ICAO safety audit. They were told to be current on procedures as well as operational manual," the source said.

Along with the DGCA safety audit, the ICAO will also "randomly" pick an airline to check its compliance of the safety regulations.
The audit is conducted in areas related to legislation, organisation, licensing, operation, airworthiness, accident investigation, air navigation and aerodromes.
The meeting was part of the exercise being undertaken by the DGCA both at its headquarters as well as various regional offices.
According to the DGCA data, a record 422 air safety violations were detected by it in 2016 against 275 in 2015, amid India witnessing the highest air passenger growth in the world.