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FEATURE HOPE AMID GLOOME

Learjet 45

“The Indian market, for the last 18-24 formed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation those existing in the rules prescribed by
months, has been a difficult one. It has (MoCA) and the DGCA with representation the DGCA.
been a tough market to operate in. We from non-scheduled and general aviation The DGCA’s decision comes in the
have been here, we have been working operators to review the existing regulatory wake of an international audit found that
and have had some success, but we feel and operational framework,” says Mathur they were inadequately prepared for long-
the market has more potential than what of PWC. distance flights.
we have seen. The regulatory environment Only two airports, Delhi and Mumbai, According to a civil aviation ministry
has been difficult over the past 18-24 have explicitly considered general official, in a safety audit of India last
months. Hopefully, that will change for aviation in their masterplans – and they December, the International Civil Aviation
the better and will allow more and easier have limited capacity overall, especially Organization (ICAO) had found significant
use of business aircraft within India and Mumbai. Conversely, other metros and safety concerns, with deficiencies in AOP
aircraft coming into India. If that were to non-metro cities have physical capacity holders and maintenance.
happen, we feel this market is well-poised but no dedicated general aviation facilities. Dr. Sanat Kaul, Chairman IFFAAD
for extraordinary growth,” says Emery. “Serious consideration needs to be India Chapter, says in order to avoid a
Bali also agrees that the taxation given to developing disused, or low-traffic high duty of on import of business jets,
policies on purchase of aircraft should be secondary airports for general aviation,” the private owners of business jets took
reconsidered. “As this is a capital good says Bali of BAOA. the innovative way out. “Their desire was
and no threat to indigenous industry, to import these aircraft, use them but not
it should be abolished or significantly Ban On International Operations pay the heavy import duty. The easy way
brought down,” he adds. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration out was to convert their aircraft licence
India also lacks the number of fixed- (FAA) decision to downgrade India’s air into commercial non-schedule airline
base operations (FBOs) and facilities for safety rating has added to the woes of licence where duty was practically nil,”
private jets and most airports tend to the business aircraft operators. And the Kaul says.
prevent business jets from landing at peak Indian business aircraft operators are So most business houses of India,
hours. facing a headwind since the country’s who owned private aircraft converted
“With the current traffic load of aviation regulator imposed a ban on their their licence from private category to
scheduled flights at metro airports, international flight services. non-schedule operator status. However,
general aviation aircraft inevitably get The DGCA has tightened its norms and these non-scheduled airlines did not
lower priority as compared to scheduled decided that non-scheduled air operator meet the requirements of Annex 6 of the
operators. Delays in takeoff and landing permit (NSOP) holder would be permitted Chicago Convention of 1944 (applicable to
clearances may defeat the purpose of to undertake international operations, commercial international operations) and
investments in general aviation aircraft. only if he meets certain requirements meant for non-scheduled operators going
A joint review committee needs to be for undertaking such operations, besides abroad. But they continued to fly abroad
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