Reliance's grounded aircraft gets DGCA clearance

Reliance Industries today said aviation regulator DGCA, which had grounded its business jet, cleared it for take-off after the company fulfilled the requirements.
"DGCA has cleared the aircraft for take-off," said a company spokesperson here.
Officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation were not available for confirmation.
DGCA had yesterday grounded a business jet owned by Reliance Industries after a surprise inspection at the Delhi airport for carrying expired safety equipment on board and suspended its pilot for flying without a licence.
The aviation regulator also inspected Jindal Steel and Power Limited's Global Express BD 700 aircraft and found several major lapses, official sources said.

The action comes at a time when private planes and helicopters are being heavily used as charters to fly political leaders across the country on poll campaign.

The 14-seater Falcon 900EX, with call-sign VT-ISH, is registered in the name of Reliance Commercial Dealers Limited.
The DGCA inspection had found that expiry dates of most of the safety equipment on board, including a fire extinguisher and personal breathing equipment, had lapsed.
The commander of the aircraft was also not carrying his licence when he was asked to produce it, DGCA sources said. The co-pilot too was not in possession of certain documents which are to be compulsorily carried.