The Civil Aviation Ministry’s resolve is to have a zero tolerance approach towards safety of the aviation sector. In order to have a sustained and continuous process of monitoring and implementing safety-related issues a Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC) has been set up under the chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. It is a representative body of all stakeholders and safety experts of international repute. It has six working sub-groups which are working continuously to formulate policies/regulations pertaining to civil aviation safety requirements.

It is further clarified that at present nine government Flight Operation Inspectors (FOIs) are on the rolls of Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). However, these are insufficient number to carry out mandatory safety oversight functions. Therefore, there is a civil aviation requirement (CAR) for taking pilots from other airlines on secondment basis to supplement the surveillance activity undertaken by the FOIs.

This is an effective tool to put in place an effective safety oversight over the increasingly growing aviation industry. Accordingly, 18 FOIs on secondment basis are working in the DGCA. The regulatory authority has an effective system in place to avoid any conflict of interest while discharging their statutory duties. The oversight functions are done by a team of FOIs and not on individual basis. They have to undertake mandatory surveillance of various airlines in accordance with the annual plan as per the standard check list.

DGCA has a stringent safety audit procedure in place which is undertaken by the Air Safety Directorate. This Directorate is headed by an officer of the level of Deputy Director General and adequately manned in headquarters and all the regions. It is brought to the notice that ICAO and FAA has conducted an elaborate safety audit of the DGCA and has put it on record that India conforms to the highest level of safety regulations. India remained category-I nation on safety parameters.

It is reiterated that an effective safety oversight system is in place and is constantly being monitored, guided and upgraded to conform to the highest degree of surveillance. However, third party audit is a welcome idea and would be given due consideration. However, outsourcing of safety oversight function is neither appropriate nor desirable as it involves criticality of the operation.

Further, the Ministry is actively in the process of establishing a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which is going to replace the existing DGCA with additional duties and responsibilities in order to make it more effective, proactive, dynamic and consumer friendly.