Alarmed at an incident where an air-safety expert had illegally entered the cockpit of a domestic flight mid-air in February, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a fresh circular for all airlines banning entry in cockpit. 

The circular was issued on April 13 following a complaint that stated Captain M Ranganathan had entered in the cockpit of Spice Jet flight (Delhi-Jammu), while the aircraft was landing at Jammu airport. 

The incident was reported to the DGCA by the airline. As per air safety rules, only the Director General of Civil Aviation and the officials nominated by him, no other person is allowed entry into cockpit in any flight. Unauthorized entry into cockpit is a breach of safety regulations as per a TOI report.

On being asked why he entered the cockpit of that flight, Captain Rangnathan said: "I am a member of Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC), I keep checking landing procedures." 

To the question if he was authorized by the DGCA for entering the cockpit of that flight, he said: "I entered the cockpit after the airline had requested me to be an observer to assess the landing procedures at Jammu runway. There are various procedural (ICAO) violations being committed there." 

Ranganathan is a member of CASAC, but he is not authorized to enter cockpit of any flight. 

The airline denied that no such "request" was ever made to Captain Ranganathan. "The DGCA was informed as per the procedures since his (captain Ranganathan) entry in the cockpit was illegal. Why would airline report the incident, if there was any such request?" asked an airline executive. 

(You need to login first to read complete news).
New User? Register for FREE!
» Back to Travel News