Safety first: DGCA decision worrying

Mumbai: The civil aviation ministry’s proposal to the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) to look at the possibility of allowing the import of aircraft older than 15 years is worrying. The age versus airworthiness debate is probably as old as aviation itself, and many experts say the age of an aircraft cannot directly be linked with safety. Yet airlines the world over constantly upgrade fleets to stay in step with technological advances, keeping their average age between 10 and 15 years.
Admittedly, it is not just the age of an aircraft but how it has lived those years that matters. Was it maintained well? Have inexperienced pilots shaved years off? Has it taken too much of a beating? Indeed, some top airlines do fly even 40-year-old aircraft. But they impose punishing maintenance schedules for both craft and crew.
26/07/12 Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jul 2012, Safety Jul 2012