The Hindu Business Line : Air passengers body for setting up regulatory authority

Thiruvananthapuram, July 23 The Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) says that India must set up an Aviation Regulatory Authority that covers the entire aviation industry.

Speaking to the media after a meeting of the association’s national executive committee, Mr D. Sudhakara Reddy, Founder and National President, APAI, said that India needs such a regulatory body given the tremendous growth in the country’s aviation sector. While the Government is currently looking at establishing an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India, this body will deal only with issues related to airport tariffs and charges, he pointed out.

Mr Milan R. Zatakia, National Vice-President, APAI, emphasised that an Aviation Regulatory Authority is required to regulate all segments of India’s aviation industry, including aviation-related training institutions.

A number of such institutions have recently been set up and many of them do not meet the required standards.

APAI also wants the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to take measures to regulate the functioning of expatriate pilots in the country. DGCA figures show that there are currently around 570 expatriate pilots working in India, Mr Reddy said.

All these pilots must be required to undergo the thorough medical tests that Indian pilots have to do, he said. However, the DGCA does not insist that expatriate pilots undergo a thorough medical test as they are given temporary, six-month licences to fly in India, he added.

Similarly, Indian pilots have to retire at 60, but the DGCA allows expatriate pilots older than 60 with a US Federal Aviation Administration licence to fly commercial passenger aircraft in India, he pointed out. This should not be allowed as pilots over the age of 60 are not permitted to fly commercial passenger aircraft, even if they have a Federal Aviation Administration licence, he added.

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