Overriding a three-month-old directive that resulted in difficulties and delays in obtaining crew visas and temporary landing permits (TLPs), India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has authorized the nation’s consulates abroad to grant business visas to crew of nonscheduled and chartered flights. Not to be confused with the landing permit for the aircraft, the TLP permits customs to allow entrance into India by crewmembers of nonscheduled flights, the DGCA said. The TLP costs $40 per crewmember and should be issued within three days of submission, according to Universal Weather & Aviation.
This comes as a relief to U.S. and European operators that have in the past experienced numerous cancellations stemming from difficulties in obtaining crew visas, since there was no clear policy on what types of visa were to be issued to pilots. Also, crew visas can take up to five weeks to be approved by the Indian government.
26/09/13 Neelam Mathews/AINonline
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This comes as a relief to U.S. and European operators that have in the past experienced numerous cancellations stemming from difficulties in obtaining crew visas, since there was no clear policy on what types of visa were to be issued to pilots. Also, crew visas can take up to five weeks to be approved by the Indian government.
26/09/13 Neelam Mathews/AINonline
