India's DGCA launches final airline inspections ahead of FAA safety audit

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced that it will begin a final series of audits of all Indian airlines this week, following two earlier rounds that targeted Air India and Indigo. The inspections aim to verify operational and safety standards, and officials noted that significant observations from the previous visits have already been relayed to the airlines for prompt remediation. In parallel, the DGCA is drafting answers to about 200 queries in an FAA questionnaire, attaching supporting evidence for submission before the US regulator’s arrival.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s International Aviation Safety Assessment mission is set for November 16-20 and will assess India’s compliance with ICAO standards, with the outcome affecting the country’s Category 1 rating. Retaining Category 1 is crucial for Indian carriers to maintain and expand service to the United States. A former DGCA joint director general warned that a downgrade would limit US market access and trigger stricter scrutiny of existing flights. The ministry expressed confidence that India will keep its Category 1 status this year.