New Delhi: US aviation authorities have downgraded India's safety ranking in a "disappointing" and "surprising" move that will hit air links between the countries, India's aviation minister said on Friday.
The US Federal Aviation Administration downgraded India after conducting an audit last year of India's aviation regulator that found 31 areas of concern, a statement said.
The areas of concern include better recruitment and training of professional and technical staff for India's aviation regulator, responsible for the safety of the country's airlines, the statement.
"They have downgraded us to category 2, which is very disappointing and also surprising," Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said at a press conference in New Delhi.
The minister said 95 percent of issues raised by the FAA have been resolved, while the remainder were expected to be resolved by March, adding it was the first time India had suffered a downgrade.
31/01/14 Agence France-Press/NDTV
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The US Federal Aviation Administration downgraded India after conducting an audit last year of India's aviation regulator that found 31 areas of concern, a statement said.
The areas of concern include better recruitment and training of professional and technical staff for India's aviation regulator, responsible for the safety of the country's airlines, the statement.
"They have downgraded us to category 2, which is very disappointing and also surprising," Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said at a press conference in New Delhi.
The minister said 95 percent of issues raised by the FAA have been resolved, while the remainder were expected to be resolved by March, adding it was the first time India had suffered a downgrade.
31/01/14 Agence France-Press/NDTV
