(a) whether Air India (AI) has been ranked as the third most unsafe airline of the world
as per a report by Germany`s Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
(c) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any steps to make Air India`s
operations safe and secure and improve its ranking in terms of airline safety; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI K. C. VENUGOPAL )
(a) : Yes, Madam. However, due to consistent efforts in this regard, Air India is the
first airline in the country and amongst the first 10 in the world to have the IATA
Operational Safety Audit certification, which is a benchmark for aviation safety norms.
(b) : Germany`s Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Center (JACDEC) has culled data on
Air Crashes and Fatalities for the last 30 years after factoring in International Safety
benchmarks. During this period, there have been 7 fatal accidents in Air India and one in
Air India Charters Limited (AICL). As AICL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India,
the accident pertaining to it should ideally have not been taken into account for ranking
Air India. Hence, the data utilized by JACDEC is factually incorrect.
(c) and (d) : DGCA has issued `Civil Aviation Requirements` (CAR), Section 5 on AIR
SAFETY providing for Flight Safety Awareness & Accident/ Incident prevention programme,
which is mandatory for Airlines to adopt. Strict Compliance with the laid down safety
norms is being made by Air India. The respective operational departments in concurrence
with Flight Safety department take immediate appropriate action on reporting of any
hazard identification report/voluntary and anonymous reports.