Independent body to be set-up to deal with aviation safety

New Delhi: In order to ensure better regulation over aviation safety and security, an independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is on the anvil with the Civil Aviation Ministry finalising a draft legislation on the issue.
Once the draft is finalised, it would be circulated to other ministries for their inputs before it is placed before the Union Cabinet for approval. However, this process would take some time, official sources said.
The proposed CAA would have financial and administrative autonomy to take expeditious decisions on matters relating to a range of activities -- from regulation of air traffic services and licensing to ensure financial fitness of airlines, they said.
The CAA would come up at a time when the total number of planes in the country is about 440 and is estimated to cross 1,000 in a few years. In addition, over 200 helicopters and private jets are also flying in the country.
The passenger handling capacity of Indian airports, which was just 66 million in 2005, has reached 225 million now and is expected to cross 500 million in the next 10 years.
In this backdrop, the CAA would take over the responsibilities of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) like air safety, airspace regulation, setting aviation standards, licencing of airlines, pilots, air traffic controllers and engineers, besides consumer protection.
30/10/11 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Oct 2011, Safety Oct 2011