AISATS receives maiden safety clearance for ground handling ops

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has handed over its maiden safety clearance for ground handling operations to Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS), introducing a new layer of regulatory oversight in India’s aviation sector.

The authorisation falls under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 4, Series X, Part II, making India the second country in the Asia-Pacific region after Malaysia to roll out a comprehensive framework aligned with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

DGCA said the clearance was accorded after a rigorous review of AISATS’ Safety Management System (SMS), covering risk controls, reporting protocols, staff training and infrastructure adequacy. The regulator described the move as a milestone in embedding SMS practices into ground handling, an area increasingly critical amid swelling air traffic, quicker aircraft turnarounds and multiple operators on the ground.

“The clearance reinforces DGCA’s commitment to strengthening safety management systems and enhancing oversight in ground handling operations across India,” the watchdog said.

The certificate was formally presented at DGCA’s New Delhi headquarters, underlining the regulator’s intent to raise aviation safety benchmarks and bring India closer to global best practices.