Business operators demand separate rule in new aviation policy

General and business aviation operators have urged the Government to put in place separate regulations for the Scheduled Commuter Airlines (SCA) before finalising the much-awaited new aviation policy.
Besides, the operators have also sought from the civil aviation ministry to issue guidelines for code sharing between SCA and scheduled airlines.
"The requirement to prepare separate regulations (Civil Aviation Requirement) for Scheduled Commuter Airlines should be put in place before the new policy is implemented," Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA) said in its response to the Government's draft remote connectivity policy.
The Civil Aviation Ministry had on March 18 circulated the draft policy for stake holders consultations with the last date for response being yesterday.

According to the BAOA, there is no way SCA would take-off without proportionate rules being issued as per the size, weight, passenger capacity, area of operations among others.
In the proposed policy, the Government has sought to done away with the regional scheduled airline category and in place allow them convert into scheduled, or scheduled commuter airline after three year of their operations.

At the same time, there is also a proposal to allow non- scheduled operators convert into a scheduled commuter airline or a charter operator after one year of operations.
The Association has also urged the ministry to issue guidelines for code sharing between SCA and SA, adding that it may also advise SA on how to share operational arrangements and functions with SCA, especially at metro airports, in coordination with airport operator.

Code share arrangements would be allowed between scheduled airlines and scheduled commuter airlines, and SA may have any commercial arrangement with SCA where all operational arrangement and functions may be shared between them under the proposed norms, BAOA said.
Scheduled airlines may have arrangements with any other airline, where deployed capacities may be adjusted among themselves to meet mandatory operations, according to the norms.
The Association has also recommended that SCA be provided with all the support in terms of zero landing and parking charges.
Dedicated regional SCA Hubs (other than metros) should be created at around 20 airports, as suggested earlier by BAOA, to have adequate MRO and night parking facilities for SCAs, the association said in its response.