DGCA notice to Air India pilot

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to an Air India pilot over safety concerns related to flights AI-358 and AI-357, involving aircraft dispatch, Minimum Equipment List (MEL) compliance, and flight crew decision-making. In its notice, the DGCA stated that the pilot accepted the aircraft despite repeated technical snags and signs of system degradation. The civil aviation authority also noted that a smell of smoke was reported near a door during the operation of flight AI-358.

The DGCA said that during the operation of flight AI-358, the operating crew received PACK ACM L and Pack Mode advisories, and that repetitive snags related to the same systems had been recorded on five previous sectors, indicating a known history of degradation. According to the notice, the operating crew accepted the aircraft without adequate understanding of MEL limitations. It stated that on December 28, the conditions of the lower right recirculation fan were not aligned with the MEL ‘O’ conditions.