Govt to review various rules governing air charters

The decision was taken at a recent meeting which Ashok Lavasa and other top officials had with business aviation operators

In a bid to make general aviation viable, government has decided to review various rules governing air charters and non-scheduled operations and take steps to improve infrastructure and other facilities keeping their interests in mind.

The decision was taken at a recent meeting which Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Lavasa and other top officials had with business aviation operators here.

The meeting on Monday came in the backdrop of aviation regulator DGCA considering allowing non-scheduled air operators (NSOPs) and air charter firms to convert to scheduled operators to fly on routes not touched by the existing scheduled airlines, in order to promote air travel to unconnected destinations.

"It was a very good meeting and the authorities were very positive about the issues we raised," Rohit Kapur, President of Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA), told PTI after the meeting.

As the government wants to promote air connectivity in unconnected areas, he said the Civil Aviation Ministry officials "sought our views on all issues affecting general aviation and how to make it a viable business model."

The meeting, chaired by Lavasa and attended among others by DGCA chief Prabhat Kumar and top officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), decided to set up a committee to review all rules and regulations affecting general aviation and recommend amendments, if need be, official sources said.

There are about 130 NSOPs which are currently registered with the DGCA.

The NSOP representatives pointed towards problems of infrastructure, with the AAI officials saying they would keep the interests of general aviation in mind in future planning of airports.

Critical issues ranging from airport charges to ground handling and use of lounges, which are not regulated, were also raised by the air charter representatives at the meeting, the sources said.