DGCA May Allow Planes Up to 20 Years Old to Be Imported for Commercial Use

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India’s aviation safety regulator, is proposing an amendment that would allow aircraft up to 20 years old to be imported for commercial use, extending the current limitation by two years. This aims to soothe the global supply chain headache that has hampered deliveries.

Under the proposal, passenger aircraft would be eligible only if they had not exceeded 20 years of age or 65 percent of their designed economic life in terms of pressurization cycles, whichever comes first. Regulators also want proof that any imported aircraft has flown at least 50 hours in the previous six months, hoping to ensure operators are not dusting off hangar relics. Aircraft beyond 25 years would remain off the table.

This regulation will apply to pressurized aircraft, which cover the standard narrow and wide-body jets used on commercial routes, operate at altitudes above 10,000 feet, and undergo significant stress with each pressurization cycle. Unpressurized aircraft, typically trainers and general aviation planes, fly lower and face less structural fatigue. This distinction gives them slightly more freedom, with the ceiling shifting from 20 to 25 years. The decision will remain “on a case-by-case basis and on a complete examination of the record of the aircraft being procured,” the draft explained.

The proposed change comes as Indian carriers not-so-patiently await the arrival of the more than 1,400 planes they have on order. Deliveries have been repeatedly delayed thanks to ongoing supply chain problems. As a result, airlines are leaning heavily on leasing arrangements: more than 870 aircraft in the country are already leased, split between scheduled and non-scheduled operators.

Importing two-decade-old planes raises clear criticism on the safety and efficiency fronts. However, with passenger traffic projected to hit 500 million by 2030, India claims that its airlines need every available airframe they can get… even by stretching the definition of young a little more than travelers may like.

FMI: www.dgca.gov.in