The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended the license of Belagavi Aviation and Sports Enterprises, a Samvardhane Technologies Pvt Ltd unit based in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, after a serious air crash incident. The decision, announced on Thursday, comes in the wake of a crash involving a Cessna 152 aircraft, registered as VT-BBB, which crash-landed on August 11 during a test flight due to engine failure.
According to the DGCA, the Cessna 152 was on its maiden flight following maintenance, which included an overhauled engine serviced at a DGCA-approved facility operated by M/s International Aircraft Sales Pvt. Ltd. in Bhopal. Following the crash, the DGCA launched a special audit of the maintenance organization and uncovered significant lapses in maintenance standards, prompting the immediate suspension of M/s International Aircraft Sales Pvt. Ltd.’s license.
The suspension of both Belagavi Aviation and Sports Enterprises and its associated maintenance organization underscores the DGCA’s stringent approach to aviation safety. The regulatory body cited serious safety concerns and the need to ensure strict compliance with maintenance protocols as reasons for its actions.
This is not the first time the DGCA has taken such a step. Last year, the authority suspended operations at all Red Bird Flight Training Academy Pvt. Ltd. locations following a series of incidents involving its aircraft. Operations at Red Bird were only reinstated after a comprehensive recertification of their maintenance facilities.
Adding to the recent spate of aviation concerns, on August 20, a Cessna 152 trainer aircraft belonging to Alchemist Aviation Pvt. Ltd. went missing shortly after taking off from the Sonari aerodrome in Jamshedpur. The aircraft lost contact with Jamshedpur Air Traffic Control and is believed to have crashed into a nearby dam reservoir approximately 15 to 20 minutes after takeoff. A large-scale search operation is underway to locate the missing instructor and trainee pilot.
The DGCA’s recent actions highlight its commitment to maintaining high safety standards in Indian aviation, ensuring that all operators and maintenance facilities adhere to rigorous guidelines to prevent such incidents.