AINALERTS » AUGUST 27, 2013
August 27, 2013, 3:30 PM
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has banned non scheduled air operator permit (AOP) holders–including indigenous business jet operators–from flying to international destinations unless certification documents adhere to the international air operator certification manual.
This follows an ICAO safety audit of India last December that found “significant safety concerns,” with deficiencies in AOP holders and maintenance. Last month, an Indian-registered business jet was refused landing by Singapore as it did not have AOP documentation.
In the past week an ICAO team carried out a follow-up on aviation safety and regulatory practices in India and found no “significant safety concerns.” Before the follow-up audit, the DGCA grounded Eon Aviation, a Mumbai-based charter company, after doing random checks.
While the DGCA told operators yesterday that it would fast-track documents for those that fully comply, it didn’t specify any deadlines and there is concern that a manpower shortage could delay paperwork. “Given the state of the economy, it would be ideal if the ban on business jets is lifted as losses are being borne by private companies and charters,” Rajesh Bali, secretary of India’s Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA), told AIN.
“The DGCA should have had a phase-out period rather than shutting down our operations without giving us a warning,” one operator, who wished to remain anonymous, told AIN.
What kind of advance warning does Bali expect? If paperwork is not in order, those jets must be grounded. This is not like paperwork for some autos!
ReplyDeleteBusiness jet operations are expected to be fully in line with international standards and follow all rules and regulation laid down by the ICAO. If the laid down rules are not adhered to and operators try to slip through the gaps, they are very soon going to find themselves in the black list of unsafe operators and also find themselves out of business.
ReplyDeleteTo save on expenses, operators delay upgradations and modifications which will later adversly affect the aircraft's operational capabilities and this in turn will make the Indian charter operators less attractive.
While it does cost considerable amount of money to keep the aircraft systems upto date and maintained, that is very much a necessity to stay in line with world standards. The operators in India are already a constrained lot due lack of space, policy shortcomings, lack of business and various other issues. Over and above all these, if the documentation and other aircraft related aspects too are unacceptable, the fleet is very likely to be grounded till they fall in line and get up to standards.