DGCA chief Arun Mishra has been appointed the new Asia-Pacific head of UN body International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), making him the first Indian to hold the prestigious position.
Mishra would take over the reins of Regional Director of ICAO's Asia-Pacific region from Pakistani diplomat Mokhtar A Awan at the ICAO regional office in Bangkok in January, after the government here gives its nod, official sources said.
51-year-old Mishra, who became the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in July last year, was earlier India's representative in ICAO's Montreal headquarters and has been associated with the Civil Aviation Ministry since 2007.
Mishra, an IAS officer of 1986-batch West Bengal cadre, is yet to accept the appointment as he awaits governmental clearance, the sources said.
The ICAO post has a four-year term and is extendable by another four years. While Awan would superannuate on December 31, Mishra is likely to take over by mid-January after giving final touches to some major activities at DGCA.
The government had last month extended his tenure as DGCA head till mid-2014 after the West Bengal government wanted him to return to the parent cadre following completion of his tenure at the Centre.
