A high-level delegation from the Airline Users Rights and Grievances Redressal Forum (AURGRF), led by Chief Patron and Member of Parliament N.K. Premachandran, held a pivotal meeting with Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu to address urgent concerns regarding critical aviation safety issues.
The delegation, comprising key members Biji Eapen (President), Dr. Adv. K. Radhakrishnan Nair, Adv. Jose Abraham, Madhava Reddy, and Harjit Singh Chawla, highlighted serious regulatory deficiencies, safety gaps, and lapses in compliance with international aviation standards.
This meeting, which followed AURGRF’s detailed submissions to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on November 22, 2024, and a subsequent directive from the Delhi High Court to review the forum’s concerns, emphasised that aviation safety is a fundamental passenger right requiring immediate corrective measures.
The discussions centered on ICAO Document 10147, relevant ICAO Annexes, IATA operational standards, and the critical need for coordinated implementation through active industry and state collaboration to enhance aviation safety and operational effectiveness.av
AURGRF stressed the urgency of addressing recent aviation safety lapses, citing several incidents, including:
• The hazardous materials breach at Kolkata Airport on July 29, 2023, involving a prohibited item in a postal bag, was repeated in passenger baggage at Mumbai Airport in August 2024, highlighting ongoing safety lapses.
• Radioactive material – lack of storage facilities in 2022, ended with Lucknow in August 2024.
• Lithium battery-related safety incidents, which have persisted through January 2025.
• The lack of timely advisories on sodium-ion batteries, which have become prominent in 2025 due to increased adoption and enhanced safety over lithium-based alternatives.
These incidents, the delegation warned, demonstrate gaps in regulatory implementation and underscore the need for proactive safety measures to mitigate future risks.
The delegation stressed the need to revive the Aircraft (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) Rules, 2003, and amend the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) of January 25, 2023, which contradicts ICAO Document 10147, as highlighted by Hon. MP N.K. Premachandran in the Lok Sabha on 8th August 2024.
ICAO Document 10147 mandates States to establish a regulatory framework for dangerous goods control, integrating competency-based training and assessments, with clearly defined functions, roles, responsibilities, stakeholder duties, eligibility criteria, prerequisites, depth of function-specific training, and standardized assessments. AURGRF underscored that this misalignment compromises passenger safety and necessitates immediate rectification to bring national regulations in line with international benchmarks.
The delegation also emphasised the need for a proactive, preventive approach to aviation safety, stressing the importance of addressing hazards before incidents occur. This approach is aligned with ICAO and IATA guidelines for operational safety and effective enforcement, as demonstrated by best practices in the USA, Canada, the UK, and the UAE.
The Minister assured the delegation that his expert team would conduct a thorough review of AURGRF’s recommendations and respond shortly with actionable outcomes.
The representation dated November 22, 2024, emphasizes the urgent need to revive the Aircraft (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) Rules, 2003, and amend the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) issued on January 25, 2023.
In line with ICAO Document 10147 (2021), States are called upon to establish a regulatory board to oversee dangerous goods control, ensure proper training, and hold employers accountable and employees responsible, while aligning with Technical Instructions, the IATA CBTA approach (2022), and PANS-TRG (Procedures for Air Navigation Services — Training) guidelines. Strengthening operational safety and regulatory compliance requires expanding training for all air transport personnel, including BCAS and CISF staff, and implementing a 360-degree feedback system, along with coordinated efforts between regulatory agencies and industry organizations. Together, these measures are essential to enhancing the Safety Management System (SMS) under ICAO Annex 19, thereby improving passenger safety and security at every level.
AURGRF remains committed to advocating for passenger safety, regulatory compliance, and enhanced accountability in India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.