DGCA norms violated in selecting Dehradun-Pithoragarh flight

Uttarakhand BJP chief Ajay Bhatt today alleged that the state government had roped in an aviation company to operate daily flight between Dehradun and Pithoragarh by relaxing norms of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
"The tender for operating the daily flight between Dehradun and Pithoragarh was given to a non-scheduled company in violation of DGCA norms," he alleged without naming the company.
"Vital experience and safety clauses laid down by DGCA for an aviation company to qualify for flying (aircrafts) in high-altitude areas were removed on November 30 by the state government to favour and help the company qualify the bid," Bhatt said.

"Allowing an aviation company, which has no experience of flying in difficult hilly terrain, to operate the flight between Dehradun and Pithoragarh amounts to playing with safety norms set by DGCA," he claimed, adding it could result in cancellation of its licence.
A nine-seater fixed wing aircraft owned by the company could not land at the Naini-Saini Airport at Pithoragarh during its inaugural flight from Dehradun yesterday due to alleged refusal of permission by the DGCA.