DGCA Imposes Rs 40 Lakh Fine on IndiGo for Using Unqualified Simulators for Critical Airport Training

India's civil aviation regulator has imposed a substantial penalty of Rs 40 lakh on IndiGo Airlines for conducting pilot training using simulators that were not qualified for operations at critical airports.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) levied two separate penalties of Rs 20 lakh each on IndiGo's Director of Training and Director of Flight Operations for failing to comply with regulatory requirements.

According to official documentation reviewed by ANI, the violations were related to non-compliance with the DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirements and directives under Rule 133A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

The regulatory investigation examined IndiGo's training records and email communications from July 24 to July 31, 2025. Findings revealed that approximately 1,700 pilots, including both Captains and First Officers, received simulator training on Full Flight Simulators (FFS) that lacked proper approval or qualification for Category C airports.

These Category C airports—including Calicut, Leh, and Kathmandu—are classified as critical due to challenging terrain, adverse weather conditions, and complex approach procedures. Regulations mandate specialized simulator training on devices specifically certified for such demanding operational environments.

The DGCA's order identified 20 simulator facilities located across training centers in Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Greater Noida, Gurugram, and Hyderabad. These simulators, operated by training organizations such as CSTPL, FSTC, ACAT, and Airbus, were determined to be "Not qualified for Calicut and/or Leh" despite being utilized for relevant pilot training sessions.

Following these discoveries, the aviation regulator issued a Show Cause Notice to IndiGo's Director of Training on August 11, 2025, requesting an explanation for the regulatory infractions. The airline's response, submitted on August 22, 2025, was deemed unsatisfactory, prompting the DGCA to implement financial penalties.

The regulatory order stated: "You were responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable Civil Aviation Requirements. However, it has been observed that you have failed to ensure the use of appropriately qualified simulators for training related to Class III (critical) airports, in violation of the CAR provisions."

Acting under Rule 162 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, and in accordance with Schedule VI-B (Severity Level 5), the DGCA imposed the Rs 20 lakh penalty on each of the two responsible executives.

Separate demand notices were subsequently issued to both directors, instructing them to deposit the penalties in the Bharatkosh government account within a 30-day timeframe. The notices also informed IndiGo of its right to appeal the decision within 30 days by submitting a statutory fee of Rs 1,000 to the Joint Director General of Civil Aviation, as permitted under Rule 3B of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and Section 33(1) of the Bharatiya Vayu Yan Adhiniyam, 2024.

The DGCA has directed IndiGo to comply with the penalty and provide confirmation of payment within the specified period, warning that non-compliance could result in additional enforcement actions.