DGCA acting on FAA findings on Indian civil aviation security: Mahesh Sharma

NEW DELHI: Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA) is taking action on the findings brought up by Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) on India's aviation safety, which remained downgraded since early last year.

The action on the findings would be presented to FAA during the final consultation meeting to be held in March/April, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said in Rajya Sabha.

In order to retain category 1 rating in security, DGCA has taken action for compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisdation (ICAO) standards. FAA team revisited India for reassessment of DGCA's oversight capability for determination of category rating for India and conducted an audit from December last year and it raised 12 findings, Sharma said in a written reply.

These findings include certification of flying training organisation, completion of hiring of full cadre of 75 Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) in DGCA, training of FOIs on type of aircraft operated by scheduled airlines and inspection and surveillance of foreign aircraft maintenance organisations, he said.

FAA had downgraded the country's aviation safety ranking to category 2, bringing it below that of Pakistan and on par with Ghana, Barbados and Bangladesh early last year.

DGCA is taking action to address these findings which will be presented to FAA during the final consultation meeting to be held in end March/early April, he said.