By Putu Deny Wijaya
Air India Prohibited from Transporting Dangerous Goods to Delhi for 15 Days
Air India failed a recent safety audit at Delhi Airport, prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Indian aviation’s regulatory body, to make the decision to prohibit the airline from transporting any goods deemed “dangerous” to the city for 15 days. The airline failed to pass an audit measuring its compliance with ICAO guidelines, prompting the decision. The prohibition will be in effect from April 7 to April 23.
Hazardous Terrain
Following a DGCA examination of its handling facilities at Delhi Airport, Air India’s authorization to handle hazardous items has been suspended for 15 days, according to the Times of India. Certain things, ranging from combustible commodities to radioactive materials, need authorisation to be transported in airline cargo holds.
According to sources, Air India’s hub lacked storage room to segregate hazardous and radioactive commodities, as well as skilled people to handle non-risk goods and an emergency management system. These are only a few of the problems that resulted in the carrier’s license being revoked. To continue transporting sensitive products in and out of Indian airports, all Indian airlines must pass inspections.
An AI representative stated in a statement, “A normal DGCA audit was conducted in Delhi for multiple departments. Regarding our domestic freight facility in Delhi, the regulator has made certain remarks. This is being followed as well.”
ICAO Regulations
Aviation authorities, such as the DGCA, follow International Civil Aviation Organization requirements for flying hazardous materials. When it comes to managing these potentially delicate or hazardous items, this assures that airlines, sending and receiving airports are all on the same page.
When cabin workers make statements about lithium-ion batteries aboard airplanes, passengers may have had a glimpse of these laws in operation. Power banks and other batteries must be transported in handbags to avoid creating a cargo hold fire. Flights are equipped with lockable bags to enclose the batteries and put out any fire or smoldering in the event of a mishap aboard.
Air India’s Turnaround Strategy
Air India now has 15 days to remedy the errors discovered during the audit and request to have its suspension removed. Given the potential effect of such a suspension on the airline’s profitable cargo operations, the company is likely to resolve its concerns. The airline is also in the midst of a 100-day turnaround effort that started in January, after its purchase by the Tata Group.
The loss-making airline has long struggled to invest in world-class infrastructure, something the Tatas intend to rectify in the near future. Fixing serious problems like this one will take precedence till then.
Putu Deny Wijaya was always an aviation enthusiast by heart, growing up in Indonesia where air transport is very vital. His first love is The Queen of The Skies, serving the trunk routes between Jakarta and Denpasar. He brought along this passion with him throughout college by conducting his bachelor study abroad in the Netherlands for the purpose of experiencing a nonstop 14-hour long-haul flight. For Putu the sky’s the limit when talking about aviation. He hopes that he would be able to combine his passion for aviation and knowledge of finance at the same time.