Due to unsuitable facilities in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, two flight training schools in India have had their operations terminated.
The largest airline in India, IndiGo, has partnered with Chimes Aviation Academy for its cadet programme. IndiGo and Chimes collaborated in 2021 to source its junior flying officers (JFOs).
“Operations at the school have been stopped till such time the runway is suitable for flying operations. During inspection, it was observed that it had loose gravel and uneven surface and was unsafe for flying,” said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a statement.
Sources said that Dhana’s flying strip in Dhana was hardly used in the last two years as the state government failed to maintain it in the coronavirus. “Chimes has decided to do the maintenance work on the air strip itself as the process by the state government will take a lot of time. The facility will be ready for flying in three weeks,” said an executive of the flying school.
After many occurrences, some of which resulted in the deaths of students and instructors, the regulator is conducting unexpected inspections of flying instruction facilities.
This year, the DGCA suspended one flying training school's approval, sent warning letters to two responsible managers, and put seven chief flight instructors on indefinite leave. A pupil and an assistant flying instructor were placed with three-month suspensions.
