New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is trying to fill 201 vacancies after a safety audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) last month raised concerns of under-staffing. More than half of these vacancies are for personnel who verify the safety of operations and airworthiness of planes. A DGCA official told FE the regulator was planning to hire retired officials under 65 with sufficient experience on short-term contracts until suitable candidates were found. “We are also trying to get some people on deputation from Air India, other airlines and the Airports Authority of India,” the official added.
The 201 recruits will be offered one-year contracts. Out of its sanctioned strength of 574, DGCA currently employs only 307. Nearly 60 of them are consultants while 50 are on deputation from airlines. With the aviation ministry investigating nearly 25 DGCA officials for alleged breach of rules, even the existing staff strength may go down.
10/01/13 Debabrata Das/Financial Express
