In a scathing critique of the ongoing aviation crisis, an aviation expert slams both the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Indigo Airlines for the chaos surrounding Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. The expert asserts that the ‘fundamentals of aviation safety and standards is not understood by the government of India, nor by DGCA’, accusing the regulator of being run by bureaucrats without aviation expertise. The speaker further alleges that Indigo Airlines adopted a ‘chalta hai’ attitude, failing to prepare for the phase-wise rollout of norms despite having two years to arrange traffic and load. Describing the situation as ‘manufactured chaos’ and a ‘criminal offense’, the expert questions the validity of the government’s dispensation and demands an independent inquiry by aviators rather than bureaucrats.
00:00Oh, yes, absolutely. Captain Vardy, I want to understand from you, sir. Many are saying that this was manufactured chaos. As far as the FDTL norms are concerned, it was a phase-wise rollout. Why is it that the airline was not ready? How could it escalate into a crisis of this level overnight?
00:18Yeah, we are all focused on blaming one person or the other, the airline or the other. Let me split this in two parts. One is the government and the DGCA, and the second part is Indigo Airline.
00:32First of all, the fundamentals of aviation safety and standards is not understood by the government of India nor by DGCA. DGCA has never understood aviation safety for a very long time.
00:47It is the whole organization is run by bureaucrats, and there is no scope for including specialists, aviators in DGCA to start with.
00:59The minister has said time and again, I think 579 and a half times, that we are having a high-level inquiry. I'd like to know who is the high-level inquiry.
01:07If they are going to have the same bureaucrats or the DGCA doing the inquiry, do not expect anything to come out of it in any case.
01:15The inquiry has to be done by an independent body, maybe some judicial people and aviators, and then you can have an impartial inquiry to start with.
01:26Secondly, as far as the DGCA is concerned, they have said and they have given a letter that we are granting dispensation, dispensation for the laws that have been laid out.
01:41Are they in a position? Do they have the authority to give dispensation to start with?
01:45This is a safety matter, and safety cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
01:52Please understand, I hope people understand that the FDTL is not meant for the pilots or the crews benefit and relaxation or going on holidays.
02:00The FDTL is made only and only for aviation safety.
02:04No other reason whatsoever.
02:06And you cannot compromise on that.
02:08Without batting an eyelid, the minister has said we have given dispensation.
02:12Yesterday they had a meeting with the pilots at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and the minister said we have already given dispensation.
02:18On what grounds?
02:19You cannot compromise on safety to start with.
02:22So that is as far as the DGCA is concerned.
02:24As far as the airline is concerned, you have heard the typical thing in India,
02:30chalta hai, chalta hai.
02:33And same thing in the government and the DGCA, chalta hai.
02:35So Indigo thought, yes, they've given the guidelines, yes, they've given the FDTL limitations, but Chalaga will manage.
02:43That is typically, they've never taken it seriously.
02:46For two years they had the chance to increase their load or arrange their traffic, et cetera, et cetera.
02:53Indigo has done nothing for two years, and this is not an offence.
02:58It's a criminal offence on all parts.
03:00All the people concerned, see the chaos that is concerned.
03:03This is massive chaos, unprecedented, and we talk of individuals, think of the number of passengers,
03:12to what an extent they've been inconvenienced, to what extent have people gone out of the way to manage and survive.
03:20This is massive, and it amounts to a criminal fault on the people concerned who have made this happen.
03:27Actually, I'm saying they've made this happen.
03:29It hasn't happened on its own.
03:31Very valid points you've made, sir, and unfortunate that this chalta hai attitude is what costs people their lives,
03:39their day-to-day sufferings that passengers have to face.
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