The threat on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), of becoming incompetent to score Category I rating by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), looms large. The authority faces critical situation as eight of its Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) resign from their jobs.

The DGCA was already finding it difficult to match the requisite criteria by the FAA. After these eight resignations out of 52 flight inspectors it has become a tough task for the aviation regulator which was already struggling to match the target of enrolling 72 FOI (key eligibility criteria to upgrade by FAA that came in April this year).

This issue has raised severe concerns as last year DGCA was downgraded by the US regulator on the same ground. Though later it was upgraded but the US regulator had raised concerns over the technical expertise and efficiency of the Indian regulator.

As per the key requisite for upgrade to Category I, India needs to raise the numbers of its FOI to 72. The US aviation regulator had downgraded India in January last year after which the Indian regulator was upgraded last year on a conditional ground. The Indian regulator was instructed to increase the numbers of FOI to 72 in six months and also open regional offices across the country.

A source from the DGCA not willing to be identified disclosed, “these resignations are the outcome of some of the officials being transferred out of Delhi. Eight of the FOI have left as they did not want to be transferred to Mumbai or Chennai”.