The Hindu Business Line : Cabinet nod for amendment of Aircraft Act

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a number of amendments to the Aircraft Act, 1934 that would give Government the power to exercise supervisory control on the standards of airport Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) and Air Traffic Management (ATM) facilities. The Government can also license personnel engaged in ATC and make rules to ensure civil aviation security.

The amendment envisages expanding the powers of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to cover air transport services regulation, prohibition of flight over specified areas, prohibition of slaughtering and flaying of animals within 10 km radius of the airport.

The amendment would also increase the penalties in case the rules are violated. Maximum penalty shall be increased to Rs 10 lakh and two years of imprisonment with the exclusion of certain sections where maximum limit is three years, said an official release.

The Bill for amendment will now be finalised in consultation with the legislative department and then be moved in the Parliament.

Moreover, the term `incident' along with `accident' would be included in the Act, said the release.

This would be in line with the International Convention on Civil Aviation, which makes a distinction between `accident' and `incident'.

`Accident' is when a person is fatally or seriously injured during a flight, or the aircraft sustains substantial damage or structural failure or the aircraft is missing or completely inaccessible.

An `incident' is when an occurrence other than `accident' associated with the operation of aircraft that affects or could affect the safety of the operation.