M Sathiyavathy is new DGCA

The 1982-batch IAS officer is the second woman IAS officer to head DGCA

The Centre has appointed M Sathiyavathy as the director-general of civil aviation. She replaces Prabhat Kumar, who has been removed from the post within a year of his appointment.

Currently, Sathiyavathy is additional secretary and financial advisor in the civil aviation ministry. A 1982-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Union Territories cadre, she was earlier chief secretary in the Puducherry government.  She is only the second woman officer to hold Director General post after Prem Lal who held the post in early 1980s.

Following a downgrade by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier this year, Prabhat Kumar was leading efforts to restore India’s aviation safety ranking. It is expected the FAA will communicate a decision on the matter by March.

Recently, Kumar has been criticised for the manner in which the SpiceJet issue has been handled. After the carrier cut its schedule, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation had imposed booking curbs on SpiceJet and cancelled the airline’s 186 slots. The decision was, however, reversed by the civil aviation ministry.

Kumar, a 1985 batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, had joined the civil aviation ministry as officer on special duty to then aviation minister Ajit Singh. Typically, IAS officers get five-year deputation to the central government. Sources said it had been long since Kumar had completed his five-year term.

Under Ajit Singh, Kumar was appointed joint secretary in the ministry, in charge of Air India and air services agreement (bilateral traffic rights).

In fact, a post of additional joint secretary was created to accommodate Kumar. When the post of the director- general of civil aviation became vacant, following the appointment of then director-general Arun Mishra to the International Civil Aviation Organization, Kumar was given the additional charge of the post in January. His appointment as the director-general was confirmed that month.

Sources say the director general’s post is executive in nature and does not carry a fixed tenure. In January, media reports had, however, said Kumar was given a three-year term.

“We need experts to head the DGCA and continuing with non-technical leadership is not feasible.

There is a need for complete overhaul of the DGCA, as growth will seriously challenge the entire safety oversight framework,” said Kapil Kaul of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.
CHANGE IN THE AIR
January, 2014

• Joint secretary in the civil aviation ministry Prabhat Kumar given additional charge as Director General of Civil Aviation
• His appointment is confirmed in the same month and is given a three-year term

February

• US Federal Aviation Administration downgrades India for deficiencies in safety oversight mechanism

December

• FAA completes audit of the DGCA. Findings expected in three months
• Govt relieves Prabhat Kumar as DGCA. Additional secretary in civil aviation ministry M Sathiyavathy (pictured) appointed as the new DG