New aviation sector regulator in 2 years

New Delhi: India will have a more autonomous aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), in two years, said Nasim Zaidi, who heads the current regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The aviation sector has seen substantial growth in recent years, leaving DGCA under pressure, particularly in the face of high attrition. Many employees have either retired or joined the better-paying private sector. Limited autonomy has made it tougher for DGCA to replace them quickly.
CAA will be have more autonomy. Faster decision-making will make it better-suited to regulate India’s aviation industry, Zaidi said on the sidelines of an air-traffic control conference on Thursday.
The change will be brought in through an Act of Parliament. “The time frame is 18 months to two years. It will need an Act to be passed,” Zaidi said. “There will be a person (to head CAA) who will combine at least two or three roles—chairman of the board, CEO (chief executive) and director general.”
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has recommended to India a model on the lines of aviation regulators in the US and the UK.
21/10/10 Tarun Shukla/Live Mint

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

Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Oct 2010