Plea seeks grounding of `old' A-I, IA aircraft

Plea seeks grounding of `old' A-I, IA aircraft
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

July 23: The Bombay High Court will take up for hearing in two weeks a public interest petition seeking that Air-India (A-I) and Indian Airlines (IA) ground their aircraft which have crossed their lifespan. The petition, filed by Vijay Mathur, has among its respondents the central government, director general of civil aviation and director (airworthiness). The matter came up on Friday before a division bench comprising Justice B P Singh and N J Pandya and has been posted two weeks away.

In his petition, Mathur points out that the A-I and IA fleet is quite old, most of the aircraft being over 20 years old, and that their lifespan is about to end. For instance, in the last six years, A-I has not purchased a single new aircraft. There are about 12 aeroplanes of IA aged between 18 and 20 years. No aircraft can take off without the certificate of airworthiness issued by the director (airworthiness).

The certificate indicates the aircraft's age, flying hours, its condition, among other things. This shows that allowing aircraft which have crossed their lifespan or are about to, only proves that the airlines are playing with the life of the air traveller and this should be stopped, the petition states. The petition adds that the government should fulfil its obligations to see to it that air-travellers do not have to travel under such risky conditions.

Mathur has urged the court to order the DGCA and director (airworthiness) to furnish details regarding the lifespan of the aircraft and to follow norms and rules regarding safety and airworthiness which are specified in the Aircraft Act. Besides, to categorise aircrafts according to their air-span, whether following safety norms, to restrict the director from issuing airworthiness certificates to such aircrafts. Importantly, he has asked the court to order grounding of aircraft which have or are about to cross safe life limit.

Mathur has also asked the court to make it mandatory for both A-I and IA to clarify the condition of the aircraft to passengers who purchase tickets and appoint a committee to check whether the norms are being adhered to.