Faulty Simulator Component Engenders Training Inadequacies

SpiceJet, the Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, has barred ninety of its 650, Boeing 737 MAX flight pilots from flying the aircraft after receiving a fine from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation—India’s civil aviation regulatory body.

The fine was levied against the air-carrier after a 30 March 2022 surveillance check at a company simulator training facility turned up an inoperative stick-shaker on the first officer’s side of the simulator used to train pilots.

The DGCA penalized the airline ≈ $12,888, ruling that the carrier’s pilot training had a negative impact on flight safety.

As a result, training for ninety, Boeing 737 MAX flight crew members was obviated, and the airline was forced to reschedule proper simulator sessions for the affected pilots.

The DGCA’s March findings come nine-months after the regulator lifted a prohibition on commercial passenger flights using Boeing 737 MAX jets.

SpiceJet has 13 Boeing 737-MAX8 aircraft in its fleet, according to the airline’s website.

Following its surveillance check of SpiceJet’s simulator facility, the DGCA concluded that “training being imparted by SpiceJet could have adversely affected flight safety, and was nullified.”

SpiceJet said in a statement that affected pilots would “undergo re-training to the satisfaction of DGCA. The airline added that the restrictions did not impact the operations of MAX aircraft, and that the company had adequately trained pilots available for its operations.

SpiceJet is currently India’s only 737 MAX operator. However, Akasa—a new airline expected to launch in the summer of 2022–has purchased 72, 737 MAX aircraft.

FMI: www.spicejet.com