The government on Tuesday tabled the Civil Aviation Authority Bill in the Lok Sabha. The Bill is aimed at replacing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation with a new regulator to be called the Civil Aviation Authority.
The Civil Aviation Authority of India Bill 2013 was introduced by the minister of state of civil aviation KC Venugopal and would provide the CAA with full operational and financial autonomy to regulate all aspects of civil aviation.
The new CAA would be able to levy fees and charges under the Aircraft Act 1934 and also be able to recruit professionals. Currently, the DGCA can only hire staff via the Union Public Service Commission. The new regulator would also be in line with aviation regulators in various other countries.
Apart from taking the current responsibilities of the DGCA, the CAA will also handle issues relating to consumer protection and environment regulations in the civil aviation sector. The CAA will be headed by a chairperson and also have a director general.
The proposed CAA, unlike the DGCA, would also deal with matters relating to financial stress on safety of air operations, as witnessed in connection with the closure of the bankrupt Kingfisher Airlines last year.
All the members of the CAA board will be appointed by the government on recommendation of a selection committee headed by the cabinet secretary. The new regulator will also set up a separate fund called the Civil Aviation Authority of India fund. In addition, this fund will also get budgetary support. The estimated cost of establishing the new Authority would be over R110 crore.
The CAA is being established by the government to meet the standards set by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and in line with aviation regulators in other countries like the US Federal Aviation Administration and UK’s CAA.
