Market Intelligence: Indian Subcontinent

India – The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued Flying Training Circular 02 of 2025, dated July 3, 2025, mandating the appointment of dedicated Safety Managers and SMS Trainers across all DGCA-approved Flying Training Organizations (FTOs). The circular enhances India’s aviation safety oversight by aligning domestic training practices with ICAO Annex 19 and DOC 9859 standards.

• All DGCA-approved FTOs must now appoint a dedicated Safety Manager, who cannot concurrently hold any other position within the organization.

• The Safety Manager must:

  • Have at least one year of aviation experience

  • Hold an SMS certification

  • Be approved through an oral assessment conducted by DGCA

• Core responsibilities include:

  • Implementation and maintenance of the Safety Management System (SMS)

  • Safety data collection, flight data monitoring, and risk assessments

  • Emergency drill execution and response planning

  • Dissemination of safety goals and continuous safety promotion

• Approval will be granted for up to two years via the eGCA portal, subject to passing an oral exam on DGCA regulations, ICAO guidance, and internal FTO procedures.

• SMS Trainers must have:

  • A minimum of two years of experience as a Safety Manager

  • Successfully completed a Train the Trainer course

  • SMS training aligned with Appendix B of CAR Section-1, Series-C, Part I

Source: Directorate General of Civil Aviation – Flying Training Circular 02 of 2025