Notices issued by DGCA to IndiGo, AI Express over simulator training lapses
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New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo on August 11 over deficiencies in simulator training provided to nearly 1,700 pilots for operations at certain airports with difficult terrain and varying runway conditions, according to a source.
The notice follows a similar one recently served to Air India Express regarding its simulator training for Calicut International Airport.
IndiGo has been given 15 days to submit its response. The source noted that critical airfield, or C-category, training for pilots at airports such as Kathmandu, Leh, and Calicut cannot be effectively carried out on standard simulators, as these locations require highly precise approaches due to complex terrain, TNIE reported.
An IndiGo spokesperson confirmed that the airline had received a show-cause notice from the DGCA regarding simulator training for some of its pilots.
The spokesperson said the matter is under review and assured that a response would be submitted within the stipulated time, adding that the airline remains committed to maintaining the highest safety and compliance standards.
A source from Air India Express also confirmed receiving a similar notice from the regulator. While unable to specify the number of pilots mentioned in the notice, the source said it pertained to training for Calicut airport, which has a table-top runway.
The source stated that all simulators used for such training were DGCA-approved and that this was the first time they had been informed that simulator requirements could vary between airports.
In July, Air India had also been served a notice over a pilot who flew from Kathmandu airport—a high-altitude tabletop runway—in April without undergoing the mandatory specialised simulator training.
According to an airline industry source, carriers typically rely on common simulators for pilot training, with private centres in Gurgaon and Mumbai—approved by the DGCA—among those providing the facilities.