In a letter to DGCA, Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) said commercial airlines do not possess the requisite intelligence, surveillance capabilities, or geopolitical risk assessment infrastructure necessary to adequately evaluate threats in active conflict environments.
New Delhi:Pilots’ grouping ALPA India on Friday urged the civil aviation ministry and regulator DGCA to suspend flight operations into high-risk conflict zones till a centralised risk assessment is carried out amid the escalating West Asia crisis.
Stressing the need for having war-risk insurance, it also said the watchdog should mandate immediate disclosure and verification of valid insurance coverage, including war-risk clauses, for all crew operating into or near conflict zones.
In a letter to DGCA, Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) “Additionally, it is a matter of serious concern that pilots have been actively seeking clarification regarding the status and validity of their insurance coverage while operating into such high-risk zones… To date, no documentary evidence or formal assurance has been provided to confirm that adequate war risk insurance coverage remains valid under these circumstances. It is perhaps because the Airlines do not have suitable and adequate insurance riders entirely.”
The West Asia conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has significantly disrupted flight operations, and airlines have curtailed their services.
The letter highlighted commercial airlines do not possess the requisite intelligence, surveillance capabilities, or geopolitical risk assessment infrastructure necessary to adequately evaluate threats in active conflict environments.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) should immediately review and suspend operations into identified high-risk conflict zones until a centralised and authoritative risk assessment is conducted, especially in light of the worsening situation, ALPA India said.
It also urged the watchdog to establish clear, binding directives regarding operations in conflict regions, aligned with international best practices and based on intelligence inputs.
It would not be out of place to place on record that the current belligerents, USA, Israel and Iran have shot down civilian airlines in the fog of war of previous conflicts. Iran Air Flight 655 shot down by the USA during the previous conflict of similar circumstances, Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 shot down by Israel, and Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 shot down by Iran,” ALPA added.
It is pertinent to note that this issue was previously raised by us on March 18 with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DGCA issued an Urgent Safety advisory dated March 19 as a response–advising airlines to conduct their own independent risk assessments–raises significant concerns.”
ALPA asked the DGCA to issue binding directives regarding operations in conflict regions and initiate a thorough inquiry into the decision-making processes within Air India, which is carrying out its operations in West Asia.
A thorough inquiry should be initiated “into the decision-making processes within Air India, particularly the roles of the Vice President Operations and the Crew Scheduling Department, to determine accountability for exposing crew and passengers to such risks, particularly if found not to have adequate war risk insurance,” the letter said.
On March 18, ALPA India also sought measures for war-risk insurance coverage for the crew and passenger.