Speaking to IANS, Meenu Wadia said, “I have also written several letters on this subject. I am hopeful that more pressure will be created on this issue, more people will talk about it, and the issue will be raised in Parliament. Furthermore, the Prime Minister will also understand that the DGCA office needs reform and professionals should be appointed there. Now is the right time to do so. We have been talking and writing about this for the last 30-40 years. I have also written letters. I can show you the letters that have been written to the Prime Minister over the years.”
He said, “The Federation of Pilots has written several letters to the Prime Minister and the Civil Aviation Ministry, placing two important demands. The first is the formation of an independent safety board, and the second is a complete overhaul of the DGCA office. When we talk about the Federation of Indian Pilots, the question arises: why did we form this federation? Back in the day, when I joined Air India from the Air Force, there wasn’t a single aviator in the entire DGCA office. The DGCA was filled with only bureaucrats.”
Meenu Wadia questioned how the people at the DGCA can be expected to understand the complexities of aviation if they aren’t technical experts. She asked, “My question is, why are we blaming them? If they’re all bureaucrats, how can you expect them to understand aviation? That’s why we created the Federation of Indian Pilots, to do things like provide professional advice and professional knowledge.”
He said the situation has changed somewhat now, but the DGCA’s attitude remains the same. “What hasn’t changed even after so many years is the DGCA’s attitude. They want to maintain their control. Even though they are bureaucrats, not technical experts, they still want to keep control. That’s why they didn’t want to overhaul the entire DGCA office.”
Referring to the Air India Phuket-Delhi doping scandal and recent plane crashes, Meenu Wadia said that these incidents are not just due to technical faults, but also due to lack of oversight and training. She stressed that safety standards will not improve until professional pilots and aviation experts are included in the regulatory body.
She also provided information about natural obstacles and turbulence encountered by aircraft. Meenu Wadia explained, “This has nothing to do with the design or manufacturing of the aircraft. Yes, if something hits any part of the aircraft, it can be damaged. In fact, back in the day, when there was very little technology to detect such obstacles or turbulence, entire aircraft would break apart mid-air. Even wings would break apart.”
He explained that in some areas, conditions like line squalls occur, where cumulonimbus clouds are all around, and aircraft are unable to avoid them. In such situations, you may have to fly between two clouds. This can cause turbulence, but these can all be controlled. Proper training and accurate weather information are essential for pilots.
Meenu Wadia said that the Pilots Federation has consistently insisted that aviation safety be kept separate from politics and bureaucracy. An independent inquiry board should be established to conduct impartial investigations into accidents and implement its recommendations directly. Also, experienced pilots and aviation professionals should be appointed to top positions in the DGCA.
He expressed hope that the Prime Minister will take this issue seriously and that steps will be taken soon to reform the DGCA. He said, “Our intention is not to blame anyone. Our only aim is to make air travel in India the safest possible and to ensure that every passenger can travel without fear.”
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