DGCA suspends operational approval of FTO Alchemist Aviation after Cessna 152 crash
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended the operational approval of Alchemist Aviation following the tragic accident involving Cessna 152 trainee aircraft on August 20, 2024. Alchemist Aviation is a flying training organisation (FTO) based in Sonari Airport in Jamshedpur. The DGCA had initiated an audit on August 23 and 24 following the accident and found serious lapses in certain regulations.
The report submitted by the DGCA post audit stated that “several serious deficiencies and non-compliances of regulatory provisions” on the part of Alchemist Aviation. Following the report, DGCA has taken a strict action and halted the authorisation of Alchemist Aviation to function as a flying training organisation (FTO) till corrective measures are implemented.
If Alchemist Aviation has to re-start its operations, it has to undergo a comprehensive rectification process to ensure full compliance with the regulations before it can resume operations.
Alchemist Aviation is owned by TATA Steel and it conducts local flying activities at Sonari Airport.
Besides, Alchemist Aviation, DGCA has also suspended the approval of International Aircraft Sales Pvt Ltd, Bhopal-based aircraft maintenance organisation that had conducted maintenance checks on the Cessna 152 trainer aircraft. During the DGCA audit it was found that International Aircraft Sales Pvt has overhauled the engine of the aircraft that had critical maintenance deficiencies.
DGCA has raised some serious concerns about the maintenance standards followed by FTOs and MROs.
The Cessna 152 trainer aircraft crashed in the Chandi Dam and claimed the lives of 30-year-old Jeet Satru Anand – the instructor and trainee pilot - Subhrojeet Dutta.
The wreckage of the aircraft was spotted by Navy on August 25, after a 40-hour long search and rescue operation. The aircraft was lodged in a 20-foot-thick marshy area at a depth of 180 feet within the dam. The bodies of the crash victims were recovered on August 22 with the combines effort of both the Navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended the operational approval of Alchemist Aviation following the tragic accident involving Cessna 152 trainee aircraft on August 20, 2024. Alchemist Aviation is a flying training organisation (FTO) based in Sonari Airport in Jamshedpur. The DGCA had initiated an audit on August 23 and 24 following the accident and found serious lapses in certain regulations.
The report submitted by the DGCA post audit stated that “several serious deficiencies and non-compliances of regulatory provisions” on the part of Alchemist Aviation. Following the report, DGCA has taken a strict action and halted the authorisation of Alchemist Aviation to function as a flying training organisation (FTO) till corrective measures are implemented.
If Alchemist Aviation has to re-start its operations, it has to undergo a comprehensive rectification process to ensure full compliance with the regulations before it can resume operations.
As a result, the regulator has halted Alchemist Aviation's authorisation to function as a Flying Training Organisation (FTO) until the necessary corrective measures are implemented. The organisation will be required to undergo a "The FTO will have to mandatorily undergo a de novo rectification process to ensure obligatory compliances," the DGCA said.
Alchemist Aviation, which primarily conducts local flying activities at Sonari Airport, is owned and operated by TATA Steel.
In a similar incident that involved the crash of Cessna 152 aircraft, the regulator also suspended the approval of Bhopal-based aircraft maintenance organisation International Aircraft Sales Pvt Ltd, earlier this week.
This decision followed concerns about the company's adherence to regulatory standards, which were highlighted after a Cessna 152 aircraft crashed due to engine failure at Guna in Madhya Pradesh on August 11.
The engine, which had been overhauled by International Aircraft Sales, was found to have critical maintenance deficiencies during a subsequent audit."
The findings of the audit have raised serious concerns about the maintenance standards being followed by the organisation," the DGCA stated. As a result, the regulator has suspended the maintenance organisation approval of International Aircraft Sales with immediate effect.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended the approval of Alchemist Aviation to operate as a Flying Training Organisation (FTO) following a fatal crash. The decision was announced by the aviation regulator on Thursday after an audit revealed several serious deficiencies and regulatory non-compliances.
The suspension of approval comes days after the organisation's trainee aircraft crashed near Jamshedpur, resulting in the deaths of two people- the instructor and a trainee pilot.
The Cessna 152 plane lost contact with air traffic controllers on August 20, leading to a 40-hour search operation that ended with the recovery of the victims' remains.
The DGCA conducted a special safety audit of Alchemist Aviation Pvt Ltd on August 23 and 24. Consequently, the regulatory authority suspended the approval previously granted to Alchemist Aviation.
According to a statement released by the aviation watchdog on August 29, "DGCA conducted a special safety audit of Alchemist Aviation Pvt Ltd from 23 to 24 August 2024. During the audit, several serious deficiencies and non-compliances of regulatory provisions were found,” Hindustan Times reported.
The statement further read, “Consequently, DGCA has suspended the approval granted to Alchemist Aviation Pvt Ltd to operate as Flying Training Organisation, and the FTO will now have to mandatorily undergo a de novo rectification process to ensure obligatory compliances.”
Alchemist Aviation, based at Sonari Airport in Jamshedpur, specialises in aviation services, including local flights.
The DGCA, India's aviation regulator, is responsible for overseeing the safety and operational standards of the country's aviation sector. In addition to aviation regulation, the DGCA also administers examinations for the issue of flight crew and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) licenses. These exams and licenses are issued in accordance with Rule 38 & Schedule II for Pilot and Rule 61 for AME of the Aircraft Rules 1937.