Reliance manages to get DGCA clearance for grounded aircraft

Reliance Industries on Sunday 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 on Saturday 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.