NEW DELHI: Alarmed over the rising incidents of cabin crews as well as pilots indulging in taking in-flight selfies which could pose a security risk, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is set to place a ban on such activities. It is working on guidelines for airlines that would cover various aspects of photography inside an aircraft.
The development comes as there is a growing feeling that taking selfies with colleagues and relatives are turning out to be a fad. “Armed with the latest handsets with high resolution cameras, the crews and passengers are making hay of the loopholes in the safety rules. And the time has come to put a stop to such a practice,” said a senior DGCA official on Friday, adding that a circular would be issued in this regard soon.
Recently, six pilots of IndiGo came under the scanner of the DGCA for allegedly taking pictures in the cockpit with family members.
Under the Aircraft Rules, 1937, photography from an aircraft in flight is prohibited unless there is prior permission from authorities concerned. The DGCA has found rampant violation of these rules not only by passengers but also by the crews. According to the official, the circular would cover issues such as whether photography, including selfies, is permitted in cockpit. It would reiterate the aircraft rules and warn of consequences for not adhering to them. The aspects like at what stage of a flight can allow photography might also included in the circular.