"US and Indian aviation officials have developed an important working relationship as our countries work to meet the challenges of ensuring international aviation safety,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta in a statement.
One of the deficiencies revealed in the FAA audit was the lack of full-time flight operation inspectors in DGCA. Till now, the Union government was taking on deputation airline pilots as flight operation inspectors (FOI), raising a possibility of conflict of interest.
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Earlier in the week, the government approved creation of 75 posts of FOIs. However, filling all the posts could prove an uphill task. Senior pilots of the ranks of examiners are appointed as FOIs and their mandate involves inspection, surveillance and carrying out proficiency checks of other pilots.
A government press release said the incumbents to be recruited for these posts would be paid according to the industry standard. A sector source said: “Examiners earn about Rs 7-8 lakh. However, a salary of about Rs 5 lakh is being proposed to full-time FOIs to be appointed by DGCA. This amount will be taxed, while pilots serving in an airline get a portion of the allowances that are tax-free. There is a lack of clarity on the salary and service benefits. Pilots who are now on deputation to DGCA as FOIs are under pressure to take up the jobs in DGCA.”.
At present, there are about 40 FOIs in DGCA on deputation from airlines. “DGCA can hire retired pilots for these posts but not all of them can be retired,” the source added. Another source added: “Creating posts in the government is easy. Filling them up is difficult.”
Director General of Civil Aviation Prabhat Kumar denied pilots on deputation to DGCA were facing pressure to take up the full-time post with the regulator. “How can we force any one? We will invite applications and are confident that we will get an overwhelming response. Salaries will be in accordance with industry standard and will vary for junior and senior positions,” he said. Kumar denied the government had put a cap of Rs 5 lakh for the post and added it was untrue pilots did not pay tax on allowances.
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said he was hopeful FAA would review its stand after DGCA completed the training of its inspection officers by March. “In retrospect, obviously, if we had acted sooner, the issue could have been resolved,” he admitted. Singh pointed out that all except two of the 33 issues raised by FAA had been resolved.
He said while according to FAA, three-fourths of the safety requirements had been met, he believed 95 per cent of them had been met. “One reason why we could not meet the requirements quickly is that domestic aviation has shown tremendous growth in the past five years and we could not hire enough trained people, especially on government salaries,” he said and claimed the move would have not effect FAA’s decision on the induction of Air India in the Star Alliance network of global airlines.
Blaming the government for lapses, aviation expert Mohan Ranganathan said: “The downgrade was waiting to happen. In November 2010, the International Civil Aviation Organisation recommended doing away of the practice of appointing management pilots on deputation in DGCA flight standard directorate. But the government chose to ignore the suggestion. Last month, when FAA indicated India’s safety rating would be downgraded, the government went into an overdrive and appointed 75 FOIs. The government thought it could stall the FAA action through diplomatic negotiations.”
LAX INSPECTORS
* One of the deficiencies revealed in US’ Federal Aviation Administration's audit was the lack of full-time flight operation inspectors (FOIs) in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Till now, the Union government was taking on deputation airline pilots as FOIs, raising a possibility of conflict of interest
* Earlier in the week, the government approved creation of 75 posts of FOIs. Senior pilots of the ranks of examiners are appointed as FOIs and their mandate involves inspection, surveillance and carrying out proficiency checks of other pilots
* A government press release said the incumbents to be recruited for these posts would be paid according to the sector standard
* At present, there are about 40 FOIs in DGCA on deputation from airlines