'Govt processing on remnant of seven points raised by US FAA'

Government is in the process of addressing remaining two out of seven points raised by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) during its visit to India recently, which led to downgrading of the country's aviation safety ratings, a senior civil aviation official said today.
"When the audit team came in December (2013), there were seven observations kept open. Out of this seven, work on two of them is in progress while remaining five (issues) stood completed. We intend to approach the FAA once these issued are addressed," civil aviation secretary Ashok Lavasa told reporters on the sidelines of India Aviation- 2014 here.

Lavasa said the government will approach the US aviation regulator once these two issues are sorted out.
"(However) when we will go for review, it is difficult to answer. When will the reassessment happen...We are pursuing at all levels," Lavasa said when asked about the time-frame for approaching FAA for a review of the decision.
FAA had downgraded India's aviation safety rating from the top to the second category.
This downgrade from Category I to II means that Indian aviation regulator does not meet the safety standards set by the UN agency, International Civil Aviation Organisation.
He said the government is in the process of appointing as many as 75 Flight Operating Inspectors (FOI) as part of strengthening the workforce.

Replying to a query, he said regional air connectivity was one of the priorities of government and it is working towards developing low cost airports in tier II and III cities.