<p>Private air operators on Friday urged the government to evolve a policy framework for non-scheduled air operations, saying lack of it was impeding the growth of general aviation.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Business Aircraft Operator’s Association (BAOA), an umbrella body of non-scheduled operators (NSOPs), also objected to DGCA’s surprise checks saying its public observations “misrepresent the proven safety consciousness prevailing among NSOPs and private aircraft operators”.<br /><br />In a letter to the Civil Aviation Ministry, BAOA Secretary Group Capt R K Bali also pointed out that DGCA’s downgrade by US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was “due to shortage of qualified staff” to carry out operational and airworthiness inspections of aircraft.<br /><br />“It is not fair to make Indian NSOP operators a scapegoat to showcase DGCA’s authority by subjective reporting of the observations during these (recent) inspections,” Bali said.The letter came days after the DGCA grounded a business jet of the Ambani Group and found faults with those owned by several others corporate houses and private charter firms.<br /><br />The private operators fly 552 aircraft, many of which are now being used by political leaders for poll campaign.<br /></p>
<p>Private air operators on Friday urged the government to evolve a policy framework for non-scheduled air operations, saying lack of it was impeding the growth of general aviation.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Business Aircraft Operator’s Association (BAOA), an umbrella body of non-scheduled operators (NSOPs), also objected to DGCA’s surprise checks saying its public observations “misrepresent the proven safety consciousness prevailing among NSOPs and private aircraft operators”.<br /><br />In a letter to the Civil Aviation Ministry, BAOA Secretary Group Capt R K Bali also pointed out that DGCA’s downgrade by US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was “due to shortage of qualified staff” to carry out operational and airworthiness inspections of aircraft.<br /><br />“It is not fair to make Indian NSOP operators a scapegoat to showcase DGCA’s authority by subjective reporting of the observations during these (recent) inspections,” Bali said.The letter came days after the DGCA grounded a business jet of the Ambani Group and found faults with those owned by several others corporate houses and private charter firms.<br /><br />The private operators fly 552 aircraft, many of which are now being used by political leaders for poll campaign.<br /></p>