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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has called for an contiguous reappraisal of the operational conditions astatine uncontrolled airstrips crossed the country.
Expressing interest implicit accidents astatine specified airstrips successful the caller past owed to inadequate information standards for craft operations, the aviation regulator said respective uncontrolled airstrips were being utilised for the landing and departure of aircraft.
“It is besides noted with interest that, successful the past, definite accidents and incidents person occurred astatine and successful the vicinity of specified airstrips, highlighting the captious value of maintaining capable information standards for craft operations,” the DGCA said successful a information advisory issued to owners and operators of uncontrolled airstrips.
Official sources said runways that did not person a functional Air Traffic Control operation were categorised arsenic uncontrolled airstrips. The tragic mishap successful which Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar and 4 others were killed connected January 28, 2026, occurred astatine Baramati, which is an uncontrolled airfield. The craft progressive successful the mishap was a Learjet 45, owned by M/s VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd.
Under the provisions of Section 4 of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), the DGCA prescribes the minimum information requirements to beryllium complied with by operators of airstrips utilized for craft operations.
“It has travel to the announcement of DGCA that a fig of specified airstrips are not being maintained successful accordance with the prescribed standards, thereby adversely affecting the information of formation operations,” the advisory said.
Immediate review
Consequently, each specified airdrome and airstrip operators were advised to undertake an contiguous reappraisal of the operational information of their facilities and guarantee strict compliance.
The operators were advised to transportation retired periodic inspections and attraction of captious infrastructure, including runways, taxiways, aprons, ocular aids, markings, drainage systems, bound fencing, and entree power arrangements.
“Any deficiencies affecting operational information should beryllium rectified without delay. Adequate resources should beryllium allocated for infrastructure upkeep to guarantee that facilities stay serviceable and harmless for craft operations passim the year,” the DGCA said.
The aviation regulator besides encouraged operators of airstrips that were regularly utilized for craft operations to get an Aerodrome Licence, wherever applicable, successful accordance with the provisions of the Aircraft Rules and applicable DGCA requirements.
