Delhi is buzzing with aviation experts from across the Asia Pacific region this week. A major four-day gathering started today at Vigyan Bhawan, bringing together investigators, regulators, and safety officials to sharpen skills and share ideas on preventing plane crashes and incidents.
India Opens Doors to First-Time Regional Safety Summit
The event marks a big moment for Indian aviation. For the first time, our country is playing host to the 13th meeting of the Asia Pacific Accident Investigation Group, or APAC-AIG. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha kicked things off this morning, joined by top officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Asia Pacific office.
Delegates from various countries in the region filled the hall, ready to discuss everything from crash probes to new ways of stopping accidents before they happen. The workshop runs until October 31 and includes hands-on sessions alongside the main talks.
AAIB Chief Calls for Stronger Global Cooperation
AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar welcomed everyone and highlighted how India actively joins global safety programs. He pointed to a recent paper India presented at the ICAO General Assembly about avoiding controlled flight into terrain during landing approaches. He also stressed the need to act quickly on safety suggestions that come out of investigations.
Yugandhar urged investigators to focus on bringing down the total number of accidents worldwide through detailed work and solid advice. In a generous move, he offered India’s advanced aviation labs to other countries for testing faulty parts. To make the visit memorable, he encouraged guests to experience India’s culture and even try yoga for better health. Every delegate received a book on short yoga breaks and details about the Ministry of Ayush’s yoga app. A group trip to Akshardham Temple is planned for tomorrow.
ICAO Leaders Praise India’s Hosting Efforts
Stuart Godley, who chairs the APAC-AIG, and secretary Anam spoke next. They explained that these meetings help countries swap knowledge and build stronger teams for probing accidents and incidents. Godley again reminded everyone how crucial it is to follow through on safety fixes. He thanked India and the AAIB for stepping up to organize the event.
Secretary Sinha Outlines India’s Safety Roadmap
Secretary Sinha shared how India follows ICAO’s rules on accident investigations through our 2017 aircraft incident rules. He talked about big plans to train more people in the aviation field. This includes a new National Aviation Safety Center at Jewar and special courses for international auditors at Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University.
He also mentioned the new Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024, which will make DGCA and AAIB stronger by adding more staff. Sinha praised the good scores both organizations got in recent ICAO checks and touched on safety patterns around the world and in our region.
Minister’s Message: Asia Pacific Leads in Safe Skies
A message from Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu was read out by Yugandhar. The minister said hosting this meeting in India feels special and that the country is proud to welcome everyone. He noted that countries in Asia Pacific work well together to keep skies safe and prevent mishaps.
Over the last ten years, accident rates here have stayed below the world average, showing real dedication from all involved. India’s own progress stands out. Our score for following ICAO standards has jumped from 70 percent in 2018 to 85 percent now, moving us up from 112th to 55th place globally.
As the third-largest aviation market and one growing fast under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, India faces huge expansion. Plans call for 350 to 400 airports by 2047, opening doors for travel and business. But with growth comes the duty to keep safety first, no matter what.
Wrapping Up the Opening Day
AAIB Director Ramesh Babu closed the session with thanks to all speakers and participants. The next three days will dive deeper into technical topics, case studies, and ways to make investigations better across borders.
Events like this show how talking and teaming up can save lives in the air. With more planes flying every year, especially in fast-growing areas like ours, sharing lessons from past incidents becomes even more important. India stepping up to host sends a clear signal: we are committed to world-class safety standards.
Stay tuned for updates from the workshop as experts tackle issues like clear air turbulence and terrain risks. The goal remains simple yet vital, fewer accidents through smarter prevention and quicker responses.