DGCA to issue new safety rules for state aircraft operations

The Ministry of Civil Aviation today held a meeting with officials of State Governments on Air Services Operations. It was organized by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and chaired by Shri M.M. Nambiar, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Dr. N. Zaidi, Director General, Civil Aviation, Shri V.P. Aggarwal, Chairman, Airport Authority of India and Shri R.K. Tyagi, CMD, Pawan Hans also addressed the meeting.
The meeting was held to sort out and rectify the draw backs of the present system of operations of aircraft by State Governments. As on date, there is no defined or laid down Regulations for such operations though State Governments do have aircraft registered under normal and passenger category. Currently, all State Governments (except the government of the North-Eastern States, Himachal Pradesh and Orrisa) have got helicopters/aircraft for use by Chief Ministers, Ministers of State Governments and other VIPs. In all, there are 14 helicopters and 21 aircrafts operated by State Governments.
Only Governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan have got their NSOP. Other states are operating without any air operating permit.
The DGCA has found that stringent controls on operations of aircraft/helicopters by State Government and oversight of DGCA is required for safety of passengers which include VIPs and high dignitaries.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA shall follow the principle of “One level Safety” to extend safety oversight of DGCA on all kinds of operations-Commercial, General, Helicopters and State Governments.

The DGCA as a proactive measure, has decided to carry out the following:
• To begin with one time Safety Audit to be carried out on all the State Government “Aviation Wings”.
• State pilots to undergo one time check under DGCA Flight Inspectors.
• Continued enhanced surveillance of General Aviation and State Government aircraft.

For this, the following steps have been proposed:

• DGCA proposes to issue regulations detailing comprehensive instructions for operations, airworthiness and safety aspects of State Government air services.
• State Government shall be required to obtain Air Service authorization from DGCA as required under Aircraft Rules, within 4 months.
• State Governments will be required to upgrade their existing resources and facilities to ensure higher degree of safety by doing extensive internal and external audits.
• DGCA will step up oversight to ensure adherence to new requirements.
17/11/09 PRESS RELEASE/Press Information Bureau

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2009, Safety Nov 2009