Business aircraft body for separate norms to promote industry

Business Aircraft Operators' Association (BAOA), has called for a separate regulatory framework for general aviation to remove long prevailing bottlenecks for the sector to grow in India.
Following de-growth over the last few years, BAOA has been pressing the need for a favorable environment for operations through compliances for general aviation to be brought at par with scheduled airlines, BAOA President Rohit Kapur said at a press conference here today.
As on August 2013, India had 525 aircraft, as against 558 in 2012. This dismal scene is due to poor induction of aircraft because de-induction of aircraft.
"There is an immediate need to address some of issues adversely affecting operational efficiency of non-scheduled and private operators due to airlines specific regulations and circulars being applied to non-scheduled operators and private operators without considering different environments and operating conditions of these aircraft.

"This has led to inhibiting the growth potential of the business aviation sector, besides negatively impacting job creation," Kapur told reporters.
"In 2012, we predicted the business aviation fleet to touch 1,793 by 2020. However, there is a regression in the predicted trajectory and we expect the fleet to reach only 922 aircraft by 2020," he said.
He said that the government needs to look into creation of dedicated infrastructure such as hangers, besides maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities as well as a policy framework to foster growth.
The total inventory value of general aviation aircraft in India is over Rs 12,000 crore, providing direct employment to 12,000 people and employing an equal number indirectly, Kapur said.