JOIN USThe government has approved “in-principle” a proposal to set up an autonomous airline regulator with full financial and administrative powers in place of the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation and is likely to introduce a bill in the monsoon session of Parliament.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday. The proposed regulator, civil aviation authority (CAA), is in lines with the recommendations of the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“The proposal has been given in-principle approval and a bill to establish the CAA is likely to be brought in the monsoon session,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said after the Cabinet meeting.
The new body will administer and regulate civil aviation safety, manage safety oversight over air transport operators, air service navigation operators and operators of other civil aviation facilities. It is estimated that around Rs 110 crore will be required for the purpose.
Matters relating to financial stress on safety of air operations, consumer protection and environment regulations in civil aviation sector will also be addressed by the CAA, according to the draft bill.
Structure
The proposed body will have a chairman, a director-general (DG) and seven to nine members. The DG and up to five members will be full-time members. They will be appointed by the Centre on the recommendation of a selection committee headed by the Cabinet secretary.
The full-time members will look into matters like airworthiness and aircraft engineering, flight standard operations, aviation safety, aerodromes, air navigation systems and air space management, air transport, matters relating to financial stress on safety of operations, consumer protections and environment regulations and human resource and finance.
The bill also proposes that the CAA can call upon any operator to provide information on financial data or explanation relating to its functions as it may require to assess its performance.
No courts will have jurisdiction over matters covered under the legislation with regard to the CAA.