Meenu Wadia calls for DGCA reforms and independent safety board

Meenu Wadia, the founding president of the Federation of Indian Pilots and a former Air India pilot, has called for urgent structural reforms within India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to enhance aviation safety.

Wadia highlighted that recent aviation incidents, including a doping case involving an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi, indicate deficiencies in supervision and training rather than just technical failures. She has submitted letters to the Prime Minister advocating for two primary changes: the establishment of an independent safety board and a complete overhaul of the DGCA's organizational structure.

Central to her argument is the need to replace bureaucratic control with technical expertise. Wadia noted that the DGCA has historically been staffed by bureaucrats rather than aviation professionals, making it difficult for the regulator to grasp complex aviation nuances. She emphasized that safety standards will only improve when professional pilots and aviation experts are integrated into the regulatory body.