| India has been found to be fully compliant with the | | | | operations inspectors on board with DGCA which now |
| international safety standards by an audit done by the | | | | includes 14 full time Government Flight Operations |
| Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United | | | | Inspectors (FOI) and 18 FOIs on secondment from |
| States of America. Before permitting a foreign airline | | | | industry was shown to the FAA team as against the |
| to operate in the USA, FAA of US, backed by the US | | | | previous of only four FOIs in March 2009. It was |
| legislation conducts an audit of the concerned | | | | emphasized to the team that current increased salary |
| country’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)/ DGCA to | | | | levels based on the 6th Pay Commission has |
| ensure its capability for providing safety certification | | | | increased the attractiveness of Government positions |
| and continuing oversight on its international carriers. The | | | | and retention has improved. Government has |
| audit is conducted under an ‘International Aviation | | | | approved and revised about 560 technical positions |
| Safety Assessment Programme’ (IASA) and | | | | and 150 non-technical positions in addition to existing |
| focuses on the country's ability to adhere to standards | | | | 160 technical and 177 non-technical positions. |
| and recommended practices of International Civil | | | | Aggressive action plan for recruitment is under way. |
| Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for aircraft operations | | | | 72 technical officers are being hired in September – |
| and maintenance. | | | | October on short term contract. Higher level of |
| Under the IASA programme, FAA in the year 1997 | | | | financial delegation given to the DGCA by |
| had conducted an audit of DGCA India and had | | | | Government of India. DGCA has inturn delegated |
| awarded Category 1 status to India. This year, in March | | | | financial powers to regional offices. DGCA now has 13 |
| 2009, FAA, based on the report of an audit conducted | | | | directortes as against exiting 9. Four new directorates |
| by ICAO in October 2006, conducted a reassessment | | | | have been added. A DGCA wide internal and external |
| of DGCA. While the FAA’s IASA team found India | | | | training programme has been developed. Further, a big |
| to be compliant in areas of aviation legislation, operating | | | | project of IT led solutions in DGCA is in advanced |
| regulations, civil aviation structure and safety oversight | | | | stage of action. DGCA India fulfils all international |
| functions, and licensing and certification obligations, it | | | | standards regarding Licensing and Certification |
| raised concerns in the areas of adequate technical | | | | Obligations. The DGCA-wide surveillance program |
| guidance for DGCA inspectors, hiring and retaining | | | | was shared with the team and it was emphasized |
| technical personnel in DGCA, establishment of an | | | | that all airlines including foreign airlines are included in |
| on-going surveillance programme of air operators and | | | | the surveillance programme which is under aggressive |
| the resolution of identified safety issues. DGCA was | | | | implementation. |
| required to rectify the concerns in the identified areas | | | | The programme of surveillance includes Indian |
| in a short time frame of about five months. | | | | registered as well as aircraft taken by Indian operators |
| Repercussions of non-action could have resulted in | | | | on wet lease. The current programme for 2009 |
| India being downgraded to Category 2 status from the | | | | includes 4,327 surveillance activities, of which 2545 |
| Category 1, which has been held by India since 1997. | | | | have been conducted till August 2009. The system for |
| Under Category 2, no expansion/ changes to the | | | | addressing deficiencies arising out of the surveillance |
| services of Indian air carriers would have been | | | | was discussed. The team was informed of setting up |
| permitted by USA and the existing operations would | | | | of Surveillance and Enforcement Division (SMED) and |
| have been subjected to ‘heightened FAA | | | | the Board for Aviation Safety (BFAS) in headquarters |
| surveillance’. Such a downgrade would not only | | | | for monthly monitoring of identified Level I deficiencies |
| have resulted to an economic impact to the nation but | | | | and progress of other deficiencies. 87 enforcement |
| would also have been a setback to India’s image | | | | actions have been taken against personnel and |
| worldwide in ICAO, EU, USA and in the international | | | | operators. In addition to the surveillance programme, |
| aviation community. The FAA IASA team revisited | | | | DGCA has put in a System of Quality Check of |
| DGCA on 23rd September 2009, to confirm and | | | | foreign flying training facilities used by Indian students |
| validate the action taken on the concerns since the | | | | for obtaining pilot licenses. DGCA officers have |
| audit in March 2009. The visit was also made to | | | | recently conducted an inspection of foreign flying |
| ascertain the information which were provided to FAA | | | | institute in Philippines in consultation with their civil |
| by DGCA from time to time in the previous few | | | | aviation authority. A system of recently introduced |
| months on the progress made to make good the | | | | financial surveillance of airlines was also discussed |
| deficiencies. During the discussions, the FAA team | | | | based on the current economic slowdown and |
| confirmed the action taken by DGCA to make good | | | | consequent pressures on the airlines. The revised |
| the identified concerns of the earlier March 2009 audit. | | | | Schedule VI of the Aircraft Rules 1937on Penalties |
| The team confirmed DGCA meeting the international | | | | was shared with the team where substantial increase |
| standards in the area of aviation law and regulations | | | | in financial penalty for non-adherence to regulations |
| and confirmed that the powers of Director General | | | | has been addressed. DGCA Enforcement Policy and |
| were well laid down in the various parts of the Aircraft | | | | Procedures Manual was provided to the team which |
| Act, 1934 and Aircraft Rules, 1937 and the regulations | | | | was issued on 20 May, 2009 and effective from 15 |
| were available to all users. In the area of CAA | | | | June 2009. The Manual establishes and publicizes |
| Structure and safety oversight functions, the team | | | | internal deadlines for taking action, appeal actions, and |
| acknowledged that lack of financial resources is not a | | | | monitoring compliance with enforcement decisions |
| constraint for DGCA and that there has been an | | | | throughout the regions, and implements an effective |
| eight-fold increase in the annual budget for DGCA this | | | | internal staff process to ensure timely action. The |
| year. | | | | DGCA Officers at headquarters and in the regions |
| In 2009-10, DGCA has 40 crores under Plan and Rs | | | | have been trained on the manual. Stakeholders are |
| 22 crores under non-plan. FAA was informed by | | | | aware that they are subject to enforcement, and the |
| DGCA that a feasibility study for establishment of Civil | | | | program constitutes an effective deterrent. FAA team |
| Aviation Authority has been commissioned and will | | | | was suitably impressed with the amount of work |
| commence in October 2009. The FAA team was | | | | accomplished by DGCA India. FAA stated that |
| shown the technical guidance, which was prepared in | | | | complete action and correction of concerns raised by |
| areas of operations, airworthiness and enforcement | | | | FAA was done in the available time space which is |
| for the guidance and use of safety inspectors of | | | | considered rare in the history of IASA. FAA also |
| DGCA for day-to-day functioning including the training | | | | acknowledged the commitment and support of Ministry |
| provided to the inspectors on their use. | | | | of Civil Aviation and Government of India. |
| The availability of an increased number of flight | | | | |