SpiceJet was fined Rs 10 lakh ($12,873) by India’s civil aviation regulator for training its pilots on a malfunctioning Boeing 737 MAX simulator.
According to local media, the fine was given by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on May 30, 2022.
“Training being imparted by SpiceJet could have adversely affected flight safety and was nullified,” the Business Standard daily cited the regulator as saying.
In April, the DGCA barred 90 SpiceJet pilots from flying the 737 MAX until they got further training. The low-cost carrier has 11 737 MAX planes and noted at the time that the pilots in question were still licensed to fly other Boeing 737 planes.
According to the Business Standard, the DGCA surveillance crew was conducting a surveillance check when they discovered that the simulator’s stick shaker was not working. A stick shaker vibrates the control column to warn the crew of an oncoming stall.
SpiceJet has been contacted for comment by AeroTime.
SpiceJet is now India’s only 737 MAX operator. However, Akasa, a new airline that expects to launch in the summer of 2022, has bought 72 of the planes.
