The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has released its Annual Safety Review for 2023, revealing a significant improvement in the safety of air travel in India over the past two years.

The report, published on Wednesday, highlighted that the number of Risk Bearing Airprox incidents per million flights in Indian airspace has decreased by 25%, achieving the targeted reduction. This reduction is indicative of enhanced safety protocols and improved operational efficiency.

Additionally, the report noted a 92% decrease in the number of Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) and Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) alerts per 10,000 departures. This substantial decline reduces the risk of controlled flight into terrain, a critical safety concern.

Another positive trend observed was a 23% reduction in the number of unstabilized approaches that continued to land per 10,000 approaches. This improvement mitigates the risks associated with runway excursions and abnormal runway contacts, further enhancing overall flight safety.

In line with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP), the DGCA has developed the National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP), which identifies high-risk categories of occurrences (N-HRCs) specific to India. The NASP’s performance is evaluated annually, and its findings are included in the Annual Safety Review.

The DGCA’s data-driven approach, incorporating insights from its database and external sources such as ICAO’s iSTARS, is central to embedding a strong safety culture within India’s aviation sector. This rigorous process ensures the continuous identification and management of emerging safety issues, fostering a safer aviation environment as the industry grows.

(ANI)