National licence must for flying overseas

The civil aviation ministry had introduced a separate category of scheduled airlines in August to accommodate growing interest by smaller players for starting new airlines.
Nine passenger airlines currently have a national flying licence, while an equal number was pending approval through ­August.
Many of these have reapplied for permission now as regional carriers, including South India-based Star Aviation Pvt. Ltd, Trans India Aviation Pvt. Ltd, Air Dravida, Emric Aviation Pvt. Ltd and Gurgaon-based MDLR Airlines Pvt. Ltd.
Regional carriers from India will not be able to fly international routes unless they upgrade themselves and get the much sought after pan-India licence.
Announcing the new regional airlines policy, the civil aviation ministry had said regional airlines could fly international as long as they meet the guidelines of five years experience and possess a minimum fleet of 20 aircraft as laid down for national airlines such as Air India and Jet Airways.
However, a review of the new civil aviation requirements for regional carriers, a framework laid down by the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation and available on the regulator’s website, makes no mention of any international operations.
The rules define a regional carrier as one that “primarily (operates) in a designated region” and can be allowed on “operational and commercial exigencies” to fly in other regions. The regions, in this case, mean the airlines can choose between North, West, South and East/North-East of the country.
11/10/07 Tarun Shukla/Livemint

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Categories: General Aviation Oct 2007, Regional Airlines Oct 2007