Aviation Panel To Set Norms For Permit, Audit

These are among the terms of reference the ministry has set out for the recently constituted four-member committee to examine.

The committee will review and suggest changes in the Aircraft Act, 1934, and Aircraft Rules, 1937. The Director-general of Civil Aviation's existing staffing norms and organisation structure would be reviewed as well.

The committee will be chaired by Air Marshal J K Seth (Retd). The other members are Airports Authority of India chairman H M Shahul, Indian Airlines managing director P C Sen and H S Khola of Director-General Civil Aviation.

The committee has been given six months to formulate the report. The first meeting will be convened soon. The panel has been asked to suggest a standing system for carrying out safety audit of different categories of aircraft operators, aviation support agencies and airport authority, to ensure safety in aviation.

 

It has been felt the DGCA has not been strengthened in line with the expansion of the Indian aviation industry.

It faces difficulties in discharging its duties, with increasing number of private players in the market today, and for lack of sufficient manpower.

Besides, the introduction of categories on the basis of capacity handling has added a new dimesion to DGCA's regulatory functioning. DGCA has demanded expansion of manpower and technology.

Another aspect the committee will look into is airports modernisation.

This will include not only the major airports of the country, but also the smaller ones in need of a revamp.

According to a government note issued recently, the committee will review the existing safety regulations, systems and procedures to ensure flight safety.

It will review the facilities for development of aviation manpower like pilots, engineers and other personnel.

The existing system of licensing aviation personnel and granting permits to operators to ensure efficiency and safety will be examined by the committee.

Aspects of air navigation, communication and surveillance system will also be looked into.