Staff Reporter / New Delhi
India’s civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a circular restricting the entry of people into ‘an aircraft’s cockpit during the flight time.’
In the new order, the DGCA said that “no person shall enter the cockpit and occupy the jump seat” during flight time unless they are crew members or “an officer of the Civil Aviation Department of India Meteorological Department, authorized by the DGCA to perform official duties”.
The regulator said that the decision was taken for “the purpose of security of aircraft operations”.
The regulator has allowed off-duty pilots to travel in the cockpit.
In July, an off-duty Air India pilot, who tried to fly to Bengaluru as an additional crew member as the plane was full, was grounded after being failing the breath analyser test for alcohol. Following the incident, the DGCA had barred airline officials, including pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers, from travelling in the cockpit if they are off-duty or on leave.
The regulator said that the airline officials, who have been deputed for familiarization of flight for better practical understanding of cockpit instruments, can travel in the jump seat on approval of pilot-in-command (PIC).
A duly authorized representative of the manufacturer of the aircraft, who is required to observe the techniques used by the pilots and monitor the instruments provided prior permission of the PIC has been obtained for such can enter the cockpit, the order said.
It also said that the employee of the airline, or a flight crew member, whose presence will help in ensuring the aircraft safety, can also travel in cockpit’s jump seat with the approval of PIC.
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Here is Full Circular
In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 5A of the Aircraft Act, 1934 (22 of 1934), the Director General of Civil Aviation, for the purpose of securing the safety of aircraft operations hereby directs that no person shall enter the cockpit and occupy the jump seat, wherever provided in an aircraft registered in India during the flight time unless
he/she is:
- A crew member; or
- An officer of the Civil Aviation Department or India Meteorological Department, authorized by the Director General of Civil Aviation to perform official duties in the cockpit of the aircraft; or
- An officer in the Ministry of Civil Aviation of the rank of Joint Secretary and above, who by virtue of his/her functions may enter the cockpit for inspection; or
- .
a. An employee of the aircraft operator, who has the permission of the pilot-in command (PIC) and whose duties are such that his/her entry into the cockpit is necessary for safe operation of the aircraft; or
b. Officials of the airline, who have been deputed for familiarization of flight for better practical understanding and knowledge of the functions of the instruments used in the cockpit provided prior permission has been obtained from the pilot-incommand; or
c. Any flight crew member of the aircraft operator, who has been authorized by the aircraft operator and has the permission of PIC, whose presence in the cockpit shall be beneficial to the overall safety of operations; or
d. A duly authorized representative of the manufacturer of the aircraft, who is required to observe the techniques used by the pilots and monitor the instruments provided prior permission of the pilot-in-command has been obtained for such entry; or
e. Any other person authorized by the Director General of Civil Aviation.