UN body finds Indian skies safe

A study by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) indicates that the Indian skies are amongst the safest in the world.
While this is just an interim report, many in the aviation industry think its a step in the right direction.
In October 2006, a team of ICAO officials carried out a safety audit and India scored 98.3, the highest for any of the 155 member countries of the ICAO.
That means India meets most of the 7700 ICAO guidelines it is required to comply with.
The audit has graded countries on the frequency of safety checks, pilot proficiency and reportable accidents among other counts.
But sources say the ICAO report is an interim one and for the final report the Indian government has to address key concerns like:
* The shortage of manpower with the Indian regulator, the Director General of Civil Aviation
* Shortage of air traffic controllers
* Inadequate infrastructure like absence of parallel runways at busy airports.
28/03/07 Sandeep Phukan/NDTV.com

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: General Aviation Mar 2007, Safety Mar 2007