Beef up security for public, pvt aircraft fleet: Centre

NEW DELHI: With rising terror threat, the Centre today asked states to beef up security for both public and private aircraft fleet and aviation facilities, including abandoned airstrips, and carry out drills on a regular basis.

In the backdrop of accidents involving VVIP aircraft and helicopters including the one that claimed the life of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy, the state governments were also told to adhere to a set of fresh rules and procedures regarding aviation safety, once these are finalised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

"We have stressed the need for enhanced security and emphasised that all steps must be taken by state governments in this regard, including carrying out regular anti-hijack drills, planning comprehensive security for aircraft," Civil Aviation Secretary M M Nambiar told reporters after a meeting with officials of state governments on air operations.

Replying to questions, he said state governments have been asked to identify and prepare a list of abandoned or unused airstrips and enhance their security.

Nambiar said till date, no state government, barring Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan, had the non-scheduled operators permit (NSOP) to operate VVIP flights. "Other states are operating without any air operating permit."

DGCA chief Nasim Zaidi said there was "no defined or laid down regulation for such operations" though state governments did have aircraft registered under normal and passenger category.

In order to implement international safety practices in the general aviation sector and air operations of state governments, fresh regulations or Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) would be issued soon to bring these sectors at par with the stringent rules governing commercial aviation.

Zaidi said safety audits were now being carried out on fleet and facilities in six states. All states would be covered in the next three to four months.

Once the new CARs are in place, regular safety audits would become part of the routine procedure, he said, adding it would ensure continued enhanced surveillance of general aviation and state government aircraft.

State pilots would have to undergo a one-time check under DGCA Flight Inspectors under the fresh guidelines.

Today's meeting was held to rectify drawbacks of the present system of operations of aircraft by state governments.

Currently, all state governments, barring those of the North-east, Himachal Pradesh and Orissa, have helicopters or planes for use by chief ministers and other VIPs. In all, there are 14 helicopters and 21 aircraft operated by state governments.

The Civil Aviation Ministry and DGCA would follow the principle of "One level Safety" to extend safety oversight of DGCA on all kinds of operations -- Commercial, General, Helicopters and state governments.