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DGCA Bill to enhance DGCA powers introduced
 New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI)

The government today introduced a bill to enhance powers of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for performing oversight functions and imposing penalties for violation of aviation rules.
 Introducing the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2006 in the Lok Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the legislation was intended to lay down appropriate safeguards to ensure protection of civil aviation in the country against acts of unlawful interference.
 The bill proposes to amend the law to enhance the quantum of existing penalties for violating rules relating to carriage in aircraft of arms or explosives or providing false information or abetment of offences or non-compliance of directions with a view to achieving desired deterrent effect to raise the compliance level, according to its Statement of Objects and Reasons.
 The Bill seeks to enlarge the scope of powers of the DGCA to make it a regulatory body.
 It would empower the Centre to grant license to personnel engaged in air traffic control, certify, inspect and regulate the communication, navigation and surveillance as well as air traffic management, besides ensuring security and safeguarding the aviation sector against acts of unlawful interference.
 The DGCA would get powers to regulate foreign registered aircraft operating in India, it said.
 The bill, brought in the backdrop of privatisation and vast developments in technology as well as India switching over from ground-based to satellite based technology, also seeks to give effect to the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, popularly known as the Chicago Convention.

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PAC raps Civil Aviation, Finance Ministries
New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI)

A parliamentary committee has rapped the Ministries of Finance and Civil Aviation for not resolving a matter relating to payment of guarantee fee by the two state-owned airlines for acquisition of aircraft, even after the lapse of 12 years.
The Public Accounts Committee, in its 30th Report tabled in Parliament today, also asked the Finance Ministry not to insist on payment of the fee by Air India and Indian at penal rates.
‘‘The Committee was surprised to note that the matter regarding payment of guarantee fee had been lingering on for several years and both the Ministries could not arrive at a consensus on this issue from 1993 till 2005, i.e. even after the lapse of 12 years,’’ the report said.
 Maintaining that whatever steps being taken now were only after the PAC took up the matter for detailed examination in May 2005, it said the Ministries ‘‘could and should have reached a mutually acceptable solution had there been sustained and concerted efforts on their part to resolve the matter. That this was not done is anything but regrettable’’.
 The PAC noted that Air India and Indian Airlines had since paid the entire amount of Rs 24.91 crore and Rs 34.38 crore respectively as guarantee fee.
 Observing that since the entire fee had been paid by both the carriers at normal rates of interest, the parliamentary panel said in view of their difficult financial conditions due to the ‘‘fierce competition’’ from private carriers, ‘‘it would not perhaps be appropriate on the part of the Finance Ministry to insist on payment of guarantee fee at penal rates’’.

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AAI, Ministry of Space developing new navigation system 

New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI) Airport Authority of India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Space, is developing a modern navigation system over the Indian air space, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

 Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel said in a written reply that AAI in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is in the process of developing a space-based Augmentation System called Geo-Aided GPS Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) for Augmwentation of the performence of core GPS over the Indian airspace.

 Since the coverage of ground based conventional navigation aids is limited by line of sight, the satellite-based system would be able to extend the coverage over the foot print of Geo-Stationary satellote in use, he said.

 The modern satellite-based system is aimed at meeting the requirements of providing landing guidance upto near Zero visibility, Patel said.

 He said India is also shopping for latest gadgets and equipment across the world to help aircraft land and take off in all weather round the clock.

 Patel said 43 Instrument Landing System have already been provided at selected Indian airports including Delhi.

 The AAI has also initiated a global tender for new ILS/ replacement of old ILS for airports at Lilabari, Silchar, Kolkata, Gaya, Delhi and Cochin. It has also plans for procurement of two more ILS for Mumbai and Chennai airports.

Government says no security lapse on PM’s special aircraft

New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI)

The government today said as per preliminary report, the matter of theft at Prime Minister’s Special Aircraft has not been found to be in nature of a security lapse, but the individual responsibilty is being fixed and staff and crew concerned have been taken off from VVIP flight duties till further orders.
On coming to know of the incident, Civil Aviation Secretary has taken a serious view and has directed Air India to investigate the matter thoroughly, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told the Rajya Sabha.
In a written reply, the Minister said ’’ as per a preliminary report, the matter has not been found to be in the nature of security lapse’’.
When the VVIP flight carrying the Prime Minister was about to take-off from Hanover for Berlin on April 24, the Air India Flight Purser in charge of a bar cart on the upper deck of the plane, noticed that a plastic bar seal had been broken and six bottles of liquor were missing.
A proposal of the Kerala government for the construction of an airport of international standards at Kannur, in the state, is being examined by the Centre.
Mr Patel said both Air India and Indian Airlines are commercial organisations and respond to market recquirements depending upon competition, demand/supply, seasonability, frequency, timings, direct/indirect operations etc.
The airlines adjust their fares to meet such dynamic market requirements and in order to maintain normal schedule during lean season, fares are revised during high season to sustain operations throughout the year.
Air India has also launched its low cost carrier -- Air India Express in April, 2005 -- to provide economic and safe travel to people who are employed in the Gulf with modest salaries.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/08/11/stories/2006081104830900.htm

`No Jet-underworld links found'

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Aug. 10

The Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that "as of now" the security clearance of the Home Affairs Ministry indicates no financial linkages of Jet Airways with the underworld. The Minister added that the airline was issued a Scheduled Operators Permit (Passenger) to operate scheduled Air Transport Services within the country in February 1995 on meeting the minimum requirements for issuance of Schedule Operators Permit (Passenger) as laid down by the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation.

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Praful clarifies powers of the DGCA

Delhi, Aug 22, 2006 (UNI)

Patel said the power of Directorate General of Civil Aviation are reviewed from time to time to keep these in consonance with international aviation requirements.

 Powers have been delegated to DGCA for licensing of airports, grant of extension to foreign pilots and engineers and relaxation of statutory time-limit for issuance of pilots’ license, he said.

The Government will soon give more teeth to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) by amending the Aircraft Act.

Patel told the Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour that the core committee, appointed by the Ministry to look into the working of the DGCA, had given its report which has been accepted.

The panel has recommended more powers to the Directorate. In recent times the DGCA has been given powers relating to licensing of airports, grant of extension to foreign pilots and engineers, relaxation of statutory time limit for issuance of licence to pilots, stay of foreign aircraft in India and change in the name of aircraft etc.

Now amendments proposed in the Aircraft Act empower the DGCA to license personnel engaged in Air Traffic Control, certification, inspection and regulation of communication, impose penalty for contravention of the provisions of Chicago Convention, he said. 

 A Core Committee constituted for empowerment of DGCA gave 276 recommendations, the Minister said.

 Of these, 157 are to be implemented while 62 need further examination. Fifty-four recommendations need consultations with other ministeries, he said.

 The Minister said foreign pilots, who are being hired by domestic airlines to fill-in the shortage, are required to clear English proficiency test.

 Asked about the arrest of an employee of a private Indian airline in connection with the foiled terrorst plan to bomb planes mid-air, Patel said the employee concerned was a UK national who was given security clearance by concerned agencies there.

 ‘‘The Ministry of Civil Aviation had not received any communication (in this connection),’’ he said. 

Nominated member Shobhana Bhartiya asked whether the Indian airports followed the international norms for landing and take-off which entail parallel runways. The minister said the facilities need upgradation.

In reply to Bhartia, about the poor infrastructure and the need to decongest the airport through expeditious landing and take-offs, Patel said rapid taxiing exit and other facilities would be provided soon.
 Bhartia sought to know whether the Delhi airport could be upgraded from convergent runways to parallel runways.
 Patel said even parallel runways would not allow simultaneous take-off of two aircraft.
 While one could be used for take-off, the other runway could be utilised for landing, he said.
 Bhartia sought to know when international norms of providing a 2.5-mile distance between two planes would be introduced in major Indian airports where a distance of six-mile between two aircraft is maintained.
 Patel said in the next few months, there would be a drastic improvement in the infrastructure in main airports.
 In reply to a query from S G Indira (AIADMK), Patel said under a Memorandum of Understanding, Federal Aviation Authority of the US and an European Helicopter agency were advising on safety and other measures for aircraft in Indian airports.

Replying to supplementaries on the deployment of foreign pilots, he said they were being recruited for the time being because of the shortage of pilots in the country which itself was the result of growth in the sector.

Regarding the shortage of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs), and the load on the Air Traffic Control System, the Minister said the government was recruiting and training ATCs in a big way and the ATC system was being upgraded to cope with the load.

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128 pilots resigned from public sector airlines
New Delhi, Aug 22 (UNI)

As many as 128 pilots have left Air India, Indian Airlines and Alliance Airways between 2004 and 2006, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
The resignations have been tendered citing reasons like health, education of children, migration to foreign countries etc and not necessarily due to less salary, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel said in a written reply.
On pay package, public sector airlines endeavour to provide a package in line with the industry standards, he said.
Keeping the current market trends in background, he said Indian Airlines have signed a MoU of settlements with Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) on 18 July, 2006.
 The settlement is based on the principle of ‘‘Fly More Earn More’’ with incentives to pilots who fly more, he said adding that wages of Alliance Air pilots were revised with effect from first October, 2004, which were further revised in case of ATR Commanders, with effect from, March 2006.
 In reply to another question, Patel said presently 10 A-320, one A-300, and one Dornier DO228 Aircraft of Indian Airlines and three B-737 and one ATR-42 aircraft of alliance air have been grounded.
 Only one B-737 aircraft operated by Alliance Air is grounded for unscheduled maintenance at Delhi and is awaiting repair kit from M/s, Boeing Company, USA, he said.
 Remaining aircraft are grounded for want of engines/scheduled maintenance. 
 Patel informed the Upper House that a number of airstrips were constructed by the government in Arunachal Pradesh prior to the Chinese aggression of 1962.
 The air strip at Passighat belongs to Airport Authority of India where no encroachment has so far been reported, he said.
 The airstrips at Along, Daqparizo, Tezsu and Zero belong to the state government where AAI maintains Civil air terminals and Indian Air Force provides air traffic services.
 Presently, Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd is operating services through Along, Daparizo and Zero Airstrips. Passighat and Tezu airstrips are presently non-operational, he said.
 To another question, the Aviation Minister said that both Domestic and International Carriers have been given free hand in pricing the tickets.
 After the repeal of Air Corporation Act 1953 in 1994, the tariff in respect of airlines is not regulated by government and it is upto the airlinds to fix the tariff and related concessions as per their economic viability and market conditions.
 He said the government has not accepted the recommendations of a Parliamentary Standing Committee which went into the matter of grant of speedy clearance to a private airline to fly abroad leading to its over-subscription of its IPO citing that its decisions were not guied by the dates of issue of IPOs. 
 It was intimated to the Committee that the decision to permit Indian scheduled airlines to operate foreign destinations was the culmination of a long process and was consciously taken after due consideration by the Cabinet, Patel said.
 He also informed the House that the Aircraft Acquisition Committee (AAC) of the Ministry have cleared NOC for import of Aircraft by M/s Jet Airways and M/s Indigo Airlines.

 In reply to a query, Patel said Indian Airlines is estimated to have incurred an additional expenditure of Rs 18 lakh during January to June due to delay in landing at Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata airports.

 He said 15 to 20 minutes delay in scheduled landing of a flight would cost an additional 600-800 kg of aviation turbine fuel.

 While Jet Airways is estimated to have incurred an expenditure of Rs 45 crore between January-June, 2006 due to delayed landing, Sahara incurred Rs 8.5 crore and Go-Air Rs 7.12 crore.

 While King Fisher Airlines is estimated to have lost Rs 15.8 crore, Air Deccan lost four crore and Spice jet Rs 2.5 crore during the period due to delayed landing.

 Patel made it clear that figures of these airlines could not be authenticated.

 He said due to bunching of flights, there is congestion of traffic during peak time at Mumbai and Delhi airports.

 However, there is no such congestion at Kolkata airport.

 To a question, the Minister said pilots had the authority to land even at nearest airports in the event of any passenger falling sick and warranting urgent medical attention.

 To a query on cheating by touts at airports, the minister said there had been a few instances of general complaint by foreign tourists of being cheated by these touts.

 Such instances do take place in connivance with taxi operators or trolley retrieving staff, the Minister said.  

The Government is planning a new look for the Indira Gandhi International Airport before the Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

 As per the modernisation plan, the Joint Venture Company (JVC) is required to expand the airside capacity by adding a parallel runway with adequate taxiways for entry/exit, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel said in a written reply.

 The Joint Venture, he said is also required to construct a new passenger terminal to cater to both domestic and international passengers and provide adequate parking space in addition to improving the access roads to the airport.

 Replying to another question, Patel said there was no no proposal to have an airport in Haryana close to Delhi.

 He said the Airports Authority of India has not received any such proposal from the Reliance Group which is setting a Mega Special Economic Zone in Haryana.

 However, he said there is a plan for construction of new terminal building complex and associated facilities at civil enclave of Chandigarh airport subject to the release of identified land by the Ministry of Defence.

 To another question, Patel admitted that many flights are circling for 15 minutes or more, before landing at the Delhi airport. At times during peak hours some flights are required to hold in the air before landing. 

The resignations have been tendered citing reasons like health, !!! And then become healthy after joining a private airline?

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=317753&sid=NAT&ssid=
Part of the report

Letters of intents issued to private companies 
 
 New Delhi, Aug 24:

DIAPL receives security clearance

The GMR-led consortium of joint venture companies, which is modernising the Delhi airport, has been granted security clearance, the Lok Sabha was informed.

The security clearance of a Greek national, Ionnis Papastiefanou, who is the Chief Operating Officer of the JV called Delhi International Airport Private Limited (DIAPL), has also been taken from the Intelligence Bureau by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said in reply to questions.

The DIAPL is headed by Sriniwas Bommidala, an Indian national, he said.

To a question whether the government proposed to allow persons of Indian origin living abroad to invest in Indian domestic airlines, Patel said, "The matter is under consideration."

Patel said that the airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai have been identified as designated gateways for 500-plus seater Airbus A-380 Superjumbos.

In order to handle this massive aircraft, two aircraft bays are proposed to be constructed in Delhi, while the B-3 taxiway at Mumbai would be widened. One bay would be constructed in Kolkata, while at Chennai one bay has already been constructed.

The government was proposing to streamline the landing systems at Delhi and Mumbai airports, besides improvements in the air traffic control procedures for the purpose.

In reply to another question, the minister said air India proposed to introduce long haul flights to New York, Chicago, Frankfurt and Beijing between 2007 and 2010.

Bureau Report

Frankfurt? Long-haul???