DGCA audit flags serious findings at four airlines before the FAA's November review

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) periodically checks whether a country's aviation regulator meets international safety standards. This is the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme. India was last assessed in 2021 and holds Category 1, the rating that allows its airlines to keep flying to the United States without restrictions.

What was reported

According to a Business Today report on 2 September 2026:

• The DGCA completed audits of IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air and SpiceJet in August.
• The audits produced "serious findings". Their details were not disclosed.
• Airlines must respond, and the DGCA may act if responses are unsatisfactory.
• A five-member FAA team is due in India from 16 to 20 November 2026.

How findings are graded

• Level 1 findings are serious non-compliances that need immediate corrective action.
• Level 2 findings are less serious and come with a set time to fix them.

The report linked the heightened scrutiny to the June 2025 Air India crash in Ahmedabad and IndiGo's operational disruption in December 2025.

Why students should care

Strong oversight protects everyone who works in aviation. For trainee pilots, it shows up as stricter checks at flying schools, more rigorous record-keeping, and airlines that expect a professional safety attitude from day one. Regulations, safety management and human factors are not just DGCA exam topics; they come up in airline interviews and simulator assessments too.