Mumbai: India's aviation systems and procedures will be put to test next summer when an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) team visits the country for an audit. ICAO last audited India in November 2015. It is the second audit in less than two years and this raises concern on whether Indian aviation regulations and policies meet global norms.
An ICAO audit is critical and serious findings can lead to other countries seeking a review or an audit. ICAO on its own does not impose bans, but based on their findings other countries can ban restrict or ban air traffic movement from in case of adverse observations.
According to government officials, the audit, expected in next April or May, will focus on areas such as operations, air worthiness and licensing of aviation personnel. These areas were not covered in the ICAO's 2015 audit, but have been audited earlier by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Officials thus are confident that the 2017 audit will not result in serious issues for India.
In its last audit in 2015, ICAO had raised serious concern about shortage of air traffic controllers in the country.
ICAO had also urged the need for infrastructure upgrades in view of rapid air traffic growth.
Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju informed the Parliament earlier this year that India's compliance with regards to quality control, regulatory framework and in-flight, passenger and cargo security were assessed to be 99.25% against a world average of about 66%.
He said that the organisation audit of the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation was successfully completed in 2015 and no safety concerns were raised.
19/08/16 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard
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An ICAO audit is critical and serious findings can lead to other countries seeking a review or an audit. ICAO on its own does not impose bans, but based on their findings other countries can ban restrict or ban air traffic movement from in case of adverse observations.
According to government officials, the audit, expected in next April or May, will focus on areas such as operations, air worthiness and licensing of aviation personnel. These areas were not covered in the ICAO's 2015 audit, but have been audited earlier by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Officials thus are confident that the 2017 audit will not result in serious issues for India.
In its last audit in 2015, ICAO had raised serious concern about shortage of air traffic controllers in the country.
ICAO had also urged the need for infrastructure upgrades in view of rapid air traffic growth.
Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju informed the Parliament earlier this year that India's compliance with regards to quality control, regulatory framework and in-flight, passenger and cargo security were assessed to be 99.25% against a world average of about 66%.
He said that the organisation audit of the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation was successfully completed in 2015 and no safety concerns were raised.
19/08/16 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard
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