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Major Win for Former AirAsia Pilot Gaurav Taneja, DGCA Suspends Two Senior Airline Executives

Aviation regulator DGCA has suspended two senior executives of AirAsia India for a period of three months over “safety violations”, said a senior official on Tuesday. The suspension was carried out a week ago, the official said.

Captain Gaurav Taneja, a popular Youtuber and former AirAsia pilot had tweeted on June 14 that he has been suspended by AirAsia India “for standing up for safe operations of an aircraft and its passengers”. He later made a

YouTube video titled “Reasons behind suspension from my pilot job” and explained how airline was saving fuel by putting passengers lives at risk.Taneja alleged in the video that the airline has asked its pilots to do 98 per cent of landings in “Flap 3” mode, which allows it to save fuel. He said if a pilot does not do 98 per cent of landings in “Flap 3” mode, the airline considers it a violation of its standard operating procedure (SOP).livemint

Capt Manish Uppal and Mukesh Neema from @AirAsiaIndian are suspended by @DGCAIndia for safety violations and risking people lives for profits.
All the “safety experts” who were acting as PR agents of @AirAsiaIndian , you are caught with your pants down. #AirAsiaIsUnsafe
— Gaurav Taneja (@flyingbeast320) August 10, 2020

Taneja gave the example of the Imphal airport, where the plane descends more steeply as compared to other airports when approaching for landing. He said when an aircraft is coming down steeply, it needs to have a drag so that it remains slow, and in these circumstances a pilot has to do a “Flap full” landing.

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“In order to achieve targets, what would people do? They will do Flap 3 landings without giving consideration whether it is safe or unsafe. This directly impacts the passenger safety,” he had claimed in his YouTube video.

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“If something happens during a Flap 3 landing, then the question would be asked to the pilot if he or she cares more about saving fuel or 180 passengers” lives, Taneja had said.

Senior DGCA officials had confirmed on June 15 itself that AirAsia India was under investigation after Taneja’s allegations

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Related Topics:airasia Captain Gaurav Taneja

Aerospace

India is in talks with Nigeria regarding the export of its single-engine Tejas and Prachand helicopter

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India is actively exploring its defense market and making audacious moves to establish itself as a significant player in targeting the African defense market to sell Tejas and Prachand.

According to the sources, Nigeria, in negotiations to purchase Indian aircraft such as the LCA Tejas and LCH Prachand, has recently opted to acquire the M-346FA light fighter-trainer aircraft from Italy. This decision comes after expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of the JF-17 Thunder jets, signaling a shift away from acquiring additional JF-17s.

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India is actively challenging Russia and China’s long-standing dominance in Africa, focusing on the lucrative market. While the India-Nigeria connection is longstanding, it’s rapidly evolving. In the fiscal year 2021-22, India emerged as Nigeria’s largest trading partner.

In March 2024, India intensified efforts to explore potential exports. A defense industry delegation visited Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, signaling India’s interest in exporting its single-engine Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

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Recent reports suggest Nigeria is considering acquiring 15 fighter jets to replace its aging Chengdu F-7NI fleet, with India emerging as a leading supplier, proposing its indigenous Tejas fighter jet.

The HAL Tejas is an advanced Indian multirole combat aircraft featuring a delta wing design, produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It serves as a pivotal asset for air defense, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions, tailored to excel in high-threat scenarios. With nearly 40 initial variants already inducted, the Tejas stands as a cornerstone of the IAF’s operational capabilities.

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Previously, Nigeria had explored Indian-built options such as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Prachand,’ Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) ‘Dhruv.’

The Prachand helicopter, designed for battlefield deployment as an attack helicopter, stands out with its advanced weaponry and avionics. Positioned to compete with helicopters like the Apache, Turkish T129, and the European Tiger, Prachand emphasizes India’s capability to produce unique and technologically advanced military assets.

Beyond military hardware, India’s strategic move includes establishing a local currency settlement system with Nigeria, a development of notable economic significance forged in May 2024.