DGCA indicts SpiceJet for not conforming to safety standards

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) indicted SpiceJet for not conforming to safety standards, following a report recently released highlighting the violation of civil aviation norms. According to the report, some senior commanders who were not qualified to operate flights during the monsoon were rostered for flying (India Today, 18-Sep-2010). Among the charges against the airline is violating flight duty timings (FDTL/FTL) beyond the extension limits (for pilots and cabin crew). The DGCA carried out a safety audit of the airline from 28-Jun-2010 to 01-Jul-2010. On 11-Aug-2010, the aviation regulator wrote to the carrier, asking it to take corrective action within four weeks.