DGCA upgrades to escape US curbs

The FAA team is scheduled to visit India in June for another inspection. Though the DGCA expects to fulfill all the conditions by then,it has decided to buy more time from the FAA and push the deadline to July. Earlier,the regulator was hauled up by the civil aviation ministry,which had to request the external affairs ministry to firefight on its behalf with the American counterpart.

After conducting an on-site assessment,the FAA downgrades ratings of a country if it fails to meet minimum safety oversight standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. A lower rating prohibits airlines from expanding their US routes and from changing the type or increasing the number of aircraft. The downgrade can also affect cargo traffic with that country as well as investment inflows.

Acting in a time-bound manner,the DGCA is now also moving fast to fill 700 critical positions sanctioned by the finance ministry over 12-24 months. “Meanwhile,consultants have been hired on contract in areas such as flight operations,aerodrome and air navigation and oversight functions,” said a DGCA official. Manpower shortage was one of the key reasons for safety and security lapses in the face of increasing traffic.

Important recommendations relating to strengthening and restructuring of the DGCA have remained unattended in the last three years.

Of the 35 issues which remain unresolved,10 relate to Airports Authority of India,which took up these issues in its board meeting held recently. The authority will also be sending 100 officers to the US,Singapore and Europe to undergo an annual training programme in safety management,enforcement and surveillance systems.

In addition,it is implementing an annual surveillance programme to monitor the safety and security aspects. It has appointed 50 new surveillance inspectors to monitor six key areas including flight operations,cabin safety,aerodrome and air navigation system.