Now Reading: Pilots’ body urges PM to replace DGCA with autonomous regulator
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Pilots’ body urges PM to replace DGCA with autonomous regulator
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing an autonomous Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to replace the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). FIP President Capt…
The Story in Brief
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing an autonomous Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to replace the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). FIP President Capt CS Randhawa said India, now the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, remains an outlier among major economies by relying on a government-attached office.
The letter, dated August 6, said the idea emerged from concerns raised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), parliamentary committees, and rapid sector growth. India's regulatory framework has not kept pace with expanding passenger traffic, fleets, and airports, the FIP said, arguing the CAA would need financial and administrative independence to hire specialists and make faster decisions.
The Indian Opinion
India's aviation watchdogs have long been reactive, not proactive, from airfare scandals to safety lapses. The pilots' plea to replace DGCA with an independent authority is overdue, but the real test is whether the government will cede control and fund it properly. Adopting ICAO standards is fine, but implementation matters more. Will the next civil aviation minister support a regulator that can truly act autonomously? Watch for the bill tabled in Parliament, and whether the CAA gets complete financial independence.
Sources (2): indiatvnews.com, timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
