DGCA to comply with ICAO safety audit recommendations

New Delhi: June 25 : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has developed an effective strategy to strengthen and develop a robust regulatory mechanism and a safety oversight system.

This has been done to comply with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s recommendations, according to a government release on Thursday.

The two agencies have audited India's Safety Oversight System and have recommended in areas relating to trained technical manpower especially in the areas of flight operations, air navigation and aerodromes in DGCA; legislative framework and regulations governing aviation safety; and effective surveillance over operations and resolution of safety concerns.

To meet international safety obligations, DGCA has carried out a corrective action plan according to which the Government has approved revival of 132 lapsed technical positions and approved creation of 427 technical positions. Efforts are being made by DGCA to obtain approval for ad-hoc appointment of flight operations inspectors pending regular recruitment.

DGCA will also hire consultants on 72 technical positions on short-term contract till regular recruitment is done.

An aggressive action plan for regular recruitment/ promotion on newly created/ revived positions and strengthening of regional offices has been drawn up and is being pursued.

As an interim measure, selection of about 40 Aviation Safety Inspectors on 'secondment' from industry in the areas of flight operations, cabin safety, aerodromes, air navigation services and dangerous goods has been done. To spruce up safety standards to be at par with international standards, a DGCA-wide surveillance programme has been prepared and DGCA officials along with seconded inspectors are carrying out surveillance.

India has so far complied with 54 of the 70 recommendations of ICAO, which is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), and had audited India's safety oversight system in October 2006 under its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).