At a time when India is witnessing an increase in air accidents, the country's aviation safety regulator is facing uncertainty over who will head it.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently headed by M Sathiyavathy , a senior IAS officer who was last year empanelled as secretary . She was asked to stay on as DG till the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency , conducted an audit of Indian aviation. The audit got over recently .
"Sathiyavathy is going to move on any time now," said a source. "But there's no clarity on who will succeed her."
The DGCA has had seven chiefs in the past eight years.The lack of continuity at the top of this vital agency -which was only last January downgraded by the US Federal Aviation Administration for over a year -has not gone down well with international aviation agencies.
The recent ICAO audit also saw questions being raised about the lack of continuity since the team knew Sathiyavathy is also going to move out and there is uncertainty on who will succeed her as the next DG.The DG had to assure the international team that the government will ensure that aviation safety will be accorded highest priority and the DGCA will be run to the best of its ability by whoever heads it.
23/12/15 Saurabh Sinha/The Times Of India
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently headed by M Sathiyavathy , a senior IAS officer who was last year empanelled as secretary . She was asked to stay on as DG till the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency , conducted an audit of Indian aviation. The audit got over recently .
"Sathiyavathy is going to move on any time now," said a source. "But there's no clarity on who will succeed her."
The DGCA has had seven chiefs in the past eight years.The lack of continuity at the top of this vital agency -which was only last January downgraded by the US Federal Aviation Administration for over a year -has not gone down well with international aviation agencies.
The recent ICAO audit also saw questions being raised about the lack of continuity since the team knew Sathiyavathy is also going to move out and there is uncertainty on who will succeed her as the next DG.The DG had to assure the international team that the government will ensure that aviation safety will be accorded highest priority and the DGCA will be run to the best of its ability by whoever heads it.
23/12/15 Saurabh Sinha/The Times Of India
