Centre Audits 400 Non-ATC Airstrips After Baramati Crash, Targets Safety Blind Spots

• Civil aviation ministry launches nationwide safety inspection of nearly 400 uncontrolled airstrips.
• Move follows the January 28 Baramati plane crash that killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others.
• Inspections aim to map infrastructure shortfalls, emergency preparedness, and communication systems at non-ATC facilities.
• These airstrips, mostly state-owned, currently lack routine oversight by the DGCA and are used by charter aircraft, political parties, and flying schools.
• The exercise seeks to create a standardized safety framework jointly monitored by the DGCA and state governments.