Proposed Amendments to Civil Aviation Rules for Unruly Passengers
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is considering changes to the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) to allow airlines to directly impose flying bans of up to 30 days on unruly passengers without needing to consult the competent authority.
Key Features of the Proposed Amendments
- Direct Airline Authority:
- Airlines can impose a flying ban of up to 30 days for disruptive behavior on flights.
- No need to refer the case to the current independent committee mechanism before imposing the ban.
- Definition of Disruptive Behavior:
- Smoking onboard and consuming alcohol on domestic flights.
- Tampering with emergency exits and unauthorized use of life-saving equipment.
- Conducting protests, sloganeering, and unruly behavior due to intoxication.
- Screaming, causing annoyance to fellow passengers, and damaging seat backs or tray tables.
- Database and Notification:
- Airlines must maintain a database of banned passengers and inform the DGCA of any imposed flying ban.
- Such passengers will not be added to the official "No Fly List" of the regulator.
- Stakeholder Involvement:
- The DGCA has invited comments on the proposed amendments under Rule 133A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
Current Framework and Impact
- Unruly behavior is a punishable offense under the existing system.
- Currently, airlines must refer such cases to an independent committee headed by a retired District and Sessions Judge, which takes up to 45 days to decide on a ban.
- The proposed changes aim to streamline the process for quicker action, emphasizing passenger safety.
- Despite being a small fraction of total air travel incidents, disruptive behavior can significantly impact flight safety and operations.
- Airlines currently follow a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to manage these incidents and report them to the regulator.
