AirAsia likely to get permit in Jan

DGCA to send team to Malaysia certify airlines operations there, wants recruitments completed

AirAsia India is likely to secure a scheduled air operator’s permit (AOP) in January, after officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) visit the company’s training centre in Malaysia to certify operations.

A senior DGCA official said, “AirAsia will import aircraft into the country after it receives the no-objection certificate. We have to send our officials to Malaysia to certify operations at its training centre in Malaysia. We may be able to issue an AOP sometime in January.” AirAsia India had approached DGCA for the permit on October 4, two weeks after it received a no-objection certificate from the civil aviation ministry.

The official added the procedure for awarding an AOP was being conducted in accordance with CAP3100, which involves a checklist of 36 items. “DGCA has to scrutinise the airworthiness of the aircraft and the preparedness of crew to commence operations. Unless the recruitments are completed, we cannot go ahead with all the checks,” the official said. After receiving the permit, AirAsia India will have to apply to airport operators and DGCA for approval of routes and network, before launching the airline. According to latest available information, AirAsia India has 200 employees, including pilots, engineers and ground staff. In an interview with Business Standard earlier this year, AirAsia India Chief Executive Mittu Chandilya had said the airline would begin operations with 80-100 employees an aircraft, which would be reduced to 60-65 in a year.

The DGCA grants AOPs after assessing the preparedness of a start-up airline. For this, it examines issues such as availability of aircraft, manpower to operate flights and handle ground facilities, aircraft parking at airports and engineering facilities. AirAsia India is a joint venture between Malaysian airline AirAsia (which would own 49 per cent stake in the carrier), the Tatas (30 per cent) and Arun Bhatia-owned Telstra Tradeplace (21 per cent).