Indian airspace remained free of any major mishap involving airlines and helicopters this year, which saw three major air accidents hogging the headlines globally.
There were 20 air accidents across the world in 2014, which included the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH-370, shooting down of MH-17 of the same airline and AirAsia Indonesia's QZ-8501 plunging into the sea after getting caught in extreme weather. Indian aviation industry saw a "safe" year with four "minor" accidents involving small airplanes of non-scheduled air operators, though the operations of scheduled airlines and helicopters have remained completely accident-free in 2014, latest official data showed.
No accident occurred in the scheduled commercial air transport since 2011 after the Air India Express crash in Mangalore on May 22, 2010 that claimed 158 lives. DGCA officials said the regulatory interventions and heightened safety surveillance carried out by the aviation regulator during the year had led to such a result. Almost 70 heightened surveillance inspections were carried out on aircraft and choppers of various types of operators this year.
However, they expressed serious concern over the "exponential" growth in incidents relating to bird-hits or animal strikes at various airports, which included a buffalo hitting a taxiing SpiceJet plane severely damaging its engine. The number of such incidents, including those of stray animals inthe operational area, rose from 302 in 2009 to 378 in 2010, 621 in 2011, 683 in 2012 and 736 in 2013.
Referring to accidents occurring during flight training, officials said the data analysis showed improper handling of control and landing techniques, low flying, maintenance and weather were the prime causative factors. Expressing concern over the accidents relating to flying training operations, they said "this will be the area of focus in 2015." Pre-flight medical checks would be among new safety measures which would be introduced in flight training programmes next year, they added.
Claiming success in preventing any chopper incidents, the officials said this was in spite of a major spurt in helicopter operations, especially due to the campaigning for general and state elections as well as seasonal pilgrimage. A record total of 6,899 hours of chopper flights were registered between March 24 and May 11 due to poll campaigning, the data showed.
During the year, DGCA carried out 69 surprise safety checks on 20 scheduled airlines, 35 non-scheduled operators, nine foreign aircraft, three aerodromes, one private and one regional scheduled operator. Commenting on the latest data, the Aeronautical Society of India official Debashish Saha said the DGCA's surveillance checks and the large number of new regulations issued by it were primarily responsible for enhanced aviation safety this year.
"The DGCA's pro-active stance brought in discipline among the air operators who themselves became more safety conscious. Such constant monitoring of aviation safety matters is crucial for the aviation industry which is witnessing a sustained strong growth," Saha said.