Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
Why it Matters?
Following the Air India crash on June 12, 2025, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered inspection of Boeing aircraft fuel control switch locking mechanisms by July 21 to prevent double-engine failure.
What You Should Know?
DGCA is India’s apex civil aviation regulatory body.
It operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
It was originally set up in 1978 and became a statutory body under the Aircraft (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Key Functions:
Ensure safe, efficient, and secure air transportation.
Registers civil aircraft and issues licenses to pilots, engineers, ATCs, and crew.
Certifies airports for safety and operational standards.
Formulates airworthiness standards and issues Certificates of Airworthiness.
Investigates aviation accidents and incidents and promotes safety measures.
Oversees compliance under the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
Approves training institutes for pilots, maintenance, and simulators.
Regulates Indian and foreign airlines; grants Air Operator’s Certificates.
Coordinates with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and participates in USOAP audits.
Encourages indigenous manufacturing of aircraft and components in India.
Fuel switches in aircraft:
Fuel switches are crucial components in the heart of an aircraft’s cockpit that control the flow of fuel to the engines.
The switches sit underneath the throttle handles in the cockpit’s centre console, positioned where pilots’ hands naturally rest during critical flight phases.
Physical brackets guard each switch on both sides, making it impossible to accidentally brush against them. A spring-loaded mechanism requires pilots to pull each switch upward against resistance before it can be moved.