Airline regulator DGCA announces a 30-day ban on disruptive passengers.
"Aviation authority in India, DGCA, is suggesting stricter rules for dealing with disruptive passengers, including allowing airlines to ban them from flying for up to 30 days."
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, or DGCA, has put forth proposals for stricter guidelines to handle disruptive passengers. These measures include the ability for airlines to directly ban unruly passengers from flying for up to 30 days. This "No Zero Tolerance Policy" has been implemented to ensure the safety of everyone on board and to maintain order and discipline during flights.
In addition to the flying ban, the DGCA has suggested that airlines create a Standard Operating Procedure for handling such passengers and report any incidents to the regulatory body. This SOP must be shared with all relevant parties. An independent committee, consisting of representatives from different airlines, will be responsible for making the final decision on the flying ban.
However, in certain cases, airlines can directly impose the ban without involving the independent committee. This is applicable if the passenger has committed a disruptive act, such as smoking, drinking alcohol on a domestic flight, or misusing emergency equipment, including life jackets.
Currently, under the Civil Aviation Requirement, an airline can ban an unruly passenger from flying for up to 45 days while awaiting the decision of the independent committee. This rule will also be included in the proposed revised CAR.
The duration of the flying ban will vary depending on the level of offence. For Level 1 offences, such as physical gestures or verbal harassment, the ban can be up to three months. For Level 2, which includes physical abuse or sexual harassment, the ban can be up to six months. For more serious offences, such as threatening the safety of the flight or attempting to breach the flight crew compartment, the ban can be for two years or more.
It is important to note that flying bans can also be imposed for national security reasons. The DGCA has requested feedback from stakeholders on these proposed changes to the CAR, which will be accepted until March 16. This initiative has been taken by Orissa POST, the most popular English daily in Odisha.
