DGCA officials 'misused' free travel facility

NEW DELHI: In yet another shocker from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), some senior officials are now under the scanner for allegedly misusing the facility of free travel in domestic airlines for safety checks and other official work. DGCA issues aeronautical information circulars to officials for travelling on airlines for such purposes.
The vigilance wing of DGCA has detected misuse of this facility where certain officials let private individuals to fly free using AICs.
"We detected some misuse of this practice. After that I have authorized only joint director generals to permit issuance of AICs and inform the DG," DGCA chief Bharat Bhushan said. The files of past three years on AICs have been sent to the ministry. The lid on this malpractice blew when some months back the relative of a DGCA official was found travelling as an air safety official using the AIC that was issued after getting clearance of joint DG A K Sharan. After conducting the probe, DGCA has asked Delhi Police to register a complaint against officials for this case.
The officials under the scanner for misusing AICs include suspended joint DG A K Sharan; senior air safety officials Bir Singh Rai and T S Gopinath.
Interestingly, no one in DGCA was able to give an estimate of the misuse of AICs by private people in connivance with officials. "We have been issuing AICs for travel by officials in cases like they need to rush to an accident spot; for taking exam papers across the country or for safety checks.
Earlier only deputy DGs or above were authorized to clear AICs. Now only joint DGs can issue the same," said sources.
When asked for estimates, the source said about 100-300 AICs were issued every month before the alleged malpractice was discovered and now the number has fallen by half ever since joint DGs started checking the same. The facility of AICs is extended by private airlines but AI seems to be the most favored for flying free through this route.