DGCA Orders Immediate Grounding of Four Learjet Aircraft After Safety Audit
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated the immediate grounding of four Learjet 40/45 aircraft operated by VSR Ventures. This decisive action follows a special safety audit conducted in the aftermath of the tragic Learjet 45 crash at Baramati on January 28, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including then Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
Audit Uncovers Significant Non-Compliances
A multi-disciplinary audit team from the regulator discovered "several non-compliances of approved procedures" within the organization. These deficiencies were identified across critical areas, including airworthiness, air safety, and flight operations. The audit highlighted gaps in maintenance procedures that raised serious concerns about the continued operational safety of the aircraft.
Specific Aircraft Affected and Corrective Measures
The DGCA has specifically grounded the following Learjet 40/45 aircraft with registrations: VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV, and VT-TRI. The grounding order will remain in effect until continued airworthiness standards are fully restored. In its statement, the DGCA emphasized that this action is a corrective measure directly linked to the observed non-compliances and procedural gaps.
Regulatory Actions and Future Steps
Deficiency reporting forms have been formally issued to VSR Ventures, detailing the identified areas of non-compliance. The operator has been instructed to submit a comprehensive root cause analysis regarding these issues for further assessment by the DGCA. The regulator has clarified that any further regulatory actions will be contingent upon the operator's response and their successful restoration of compliance with all prescribed aviation safety standards.
This incident underscores the heightened scrutiny on aviation safety protocols following fatal accidents and the regulatory commitment to enforcing stringent airworthiness requirements.
