DGCA Identifies 377 Aircraft with Recurring Defects Since January 2025
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation watchdog, has flagged significant safety concerns by identifying 377 aircraft with recurring defects since the beginning of January 2025. This critical information was disclosed by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Extensive Monitoring Activities Conducted
Minister Mohol provided detailed insights into the DGCA's comprehensive monitoring efforts throughout 2025. The aviation regulator has undertaken an extensive range of safety activities designed to ensure compliance with operational standards across the sector.
As part of planned monitoring activities during the year, the DGCA carried out:
- 3,890 surveillance inspections
- 56 regulatory audits
- 84 surveillance checks of foreign aircraft (SOFA)
- 492 ramp checks to verify compliance with safety and operational standards
Unplanned Surveillance Measures
In addition to scheduled activities, the aviation watchdog implemented numerous unplanned surveillance measures to monitor airline operations and maintenance practices without prior notice. These included:
- 874 spot checks conducted at various aviation facilities
- 550 night surveillance checks performed during off-hours operations
The 377 aircraft identified with recurring defects represent exactly half of the combined fleet of 754 aircraft operated by various scheduled airlines. Airline-specific details of these findings, as recorded on February 3, have been provided separately in an official annexure accompanying the minister's reply.
Addressing Manpower Shortages
Responding to queries about potential manpower shortages, Minister Mohol revealed significant organizational restructuring within the DGCA. In 2022, the aviation authority had 637 sanctioned technical posts. To address future manpower requirements and strengthen oversight capabilities, this number has been substantially increased to 1,063 sanctioned technical posts through comprehensive restructuring efforts.
Enhanced Real-Time Monitoring Systems
The minister highlighted crucial steps taken to strengthen real-time monitoring and enforcement mechanisms within the aviation sector. The DGCA has issued Surveillance and Enforcement Division Circular No. 1/2025 dated 07 July 2025, which mandates the use of the eCA Portal for multiple critical functions:
- All surveillance activities
- Issuance and closure of Deficiency Reporting Form (CA-2001)
- Enforcement orders
This digital system enables comprehensive monitoring and tracking of the entire surveillance and enforcement process on a real-time basis, significantly improving oversight capabilities.
Air Connectivity Update
In response to another parliamentary question regarding air connectivity, Minister Mohol clarified that, according to the Winter Schedule 2025, no scheduled domestic airlines have proposed operating flights to or from Singrauli Airport.
Key Safety Implications
The identification of recurring defects in such a substantial portion of India's aircraft fleet raises important questions about aviation safety standards and maintenance practices. The DGCA's intensified monitoring activities, combined with enhanced real-time tracking systems and increased manpower allocation, represent a multi-faceted approach to addressing operational deficiencies and strengthening India's aviation safety framework.
These developments come at a crucial time for India's rapidly expanding aviation sector, which continues to experience significant growth in both passenger numbers and fleet expansion. The comprehensive data provided by Minister Mohol offers unprecedented transparency into the regulatory oversight mechanisms designed to ensure passenger safety and operational excellence across India's aviation industry.
