DGCA recommends pilots to undergo simulator refresher course

Aviation regulator DGCA has held the commander of a SpiceJet flight responsible for an incident, which took place at the airport here more than three years ago and has recommended the pilots to undergo simulator refresher course.
The Directorate Civil Aviation, which today made public its final investigation report on the incident involving a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, has also recommended both the pilots - the pilot-in-command and first officer - to undergo technical refresher course/crew resource management with special emphasis on taxing procedures as part of its safety recommendations.
"Taxing procedure as per Boeing FCTM was not followed by the commander, which eventually resulted into the incident," the DGCA said in its report.

"The commander executed an early left turn and did not follow the yellow parking bay line to join the taxi lane which eventually resulted into the incident. The FCTM procedure recommended by Boeing for executing a turn not followed by the commander is a contributory factor," the DGCA said in its report.
The incident had happened when the port side winglet of the Hyderabad-bound aircraft with 137 passengers and seven crew onboard, hit the light mast while executing a left turn during the taxing for take-off.
However, all 144 people onboard had escaped unhurt in the incident, which took place on December 12, 2012.

The DGCA, in its report, found that weather was not a contributory factor to the incident, adding, "the first officer informed the ATC that they had stopped at the runway due to technical. However, the actual reason was not communicated to ATC by cockpit crew."

The regulator as part of its safety recommendations, has asked the commander to undergo simulator refresher and practice in taxing procedure as per FCTM/company's operations manual as well as in executing various turns during taxing besides in power-in and power out on various parking bays.
The commander has also been recommended to undergo two route checks with a training captain examiner/instructor to assess the performance and procedure.

At the same time, the DGCA has also recommended the private airport operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), to undertake a study for considering reflective paints on the light mast as well as to carry out one time check on all power in power out bays for verifying necessary clearances as per the civil aviation requirement.