Say no to VIP pressure during poll flying: DGCA tells pilots

“Say no to VIP pressure”, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a new order issued on Friday (March 27, 2026), revising norms for flying dignitaries and election operations, which also include enhanced weather safeguards.

The DGCA’s legally binding order is issued under Section 4 of Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, and replaces two advisory circulars on VIP flying issued in 2014 and 2021. A copy of the order was reviewed by TheHindu.

Up in the air: On non-scheduled operators, aviation safety

A key provision requires charter companies to mandatorily brief VIP passengers through a pre-flight pamphlet underscoring that operational decisions must remain free from “external pressure”, especially on weather, visibility and sunset operations, with pilots frequently reporting implicit pressure to fly despite constraints.

The guidelines retain the existing experience thresholds for Pilot-in-Command (PIC) which are 3,000 hours total flying time, including 2,000 hours as PIC, 50 hours of night flying and 30 hours of recent PIC experience in the past six months. However, they raise the minimum experience needed on the same type of aircraft from 50 to 75 hours, aligning aircraft flying requirements with those for helicopter operations.

For the first time, the norms lay down eligibility criteria for co-pilots: a minimum of 500 hours of total flying experience and 100 hours on type for aircraft, and 300 hours total with 50 hours on type for helicopter co-pilots. The experience requirements for helicopter PICs remain unchanged.

Coming two months after late Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar’s death in a crash at Baramati in poor visibility conditions, the revised norms lay out detailed protocols for flying during such circumstances and make weather radar mandatory on board, upgrading it from an earlier “desirable” requirement. The norms also recommend cockpit safety systems that warn pilots of imminent risk of flying into ground or an obstacle. The order also states that aircraft which are granted exemptions in engineering or maintenance requirements shall not be used for VIP flying.

Each flight will also be subject to a pre-risk assessment, covering parameters such as engine performance monitoring.

Flights into uncontrolled or smaller airstrips such as Baramati, which lack air traffic control and advanced navigational aids, will now be subject to stricter protocols. Charter companies must seek written landing permission or an NOC from district authorities at least 24 hours in advance, with State/district administration required to certify the availability of firefighting and rescue services before granting approval.

The DGCA has also introduced a graded penalty framework, starting with a caution or warning to pilots, engineers or airline officials, escalating to licence suspension, and ultimately leading to cancellation of the operator’s permit.