Six cos get NOCs for non-scheduled air services this year

At least six companies have received preliminary approval from the government for launching non-scheduled air services in the first four months of this year, mirroring the rising demand for private charters.
In the whole of 2015, just ten entities received the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the civil aviation ministry.
The uptrend in granting NOCs comes against the backdrop of government making efforts to bolster the domestic aviation space, which has high growth potential.
Procuring an NOC is the first step in the approval process for starting air services in the country and, subject to fulfilment of conditions, the final nod in the form of Air Operator's Permit (AOP) is granted by the aviation regulator, DGCA.

Latest data from the Civil Aviation Ministry shows that six companies received initial NOCs till early April this year in the 'Non Scheduled Air Transport Services' category.
The firms are LMCS Infra Holdings, U Y Aviation, River Engineering, Chipsan Aviation, AVV Skyshuttle and TAAL Enterprises.

Out of them, LMCS, U Y Aviation and River Engineering got the approval in February while Chipsan and AVV Skyshuttle received the nod in March. The NOC to TAAL Enterprises was given last month.
From January 2014 to April this year, as many as 34 entities have been given NOCs under the 'Non Scheduled Air Transport Services' segment.

During this period, four companies -- including Tata SIA Airlines -- got the initial nod for starting 'Scheduled Air Transport Passenger Services' while four others received the approval in the 'Scheduled Air Transport Regional Services' category, as per the data.
Tata SIA Airlines launched services in January 2015.
According to the data, a total of 43 NOCs were issued in January 2014-April 2016 period across the three segments. However, just six entities have got the AOPs.
Also, Mishra said, there was shortage of pilots and
crew.
"Small aircraft need specialised crew. We need a special initiative from the government to build that up. Pilots and engineers can't come overnight. We need to train them," he added.

"India produced only about 200-300 pilots every year. "The Civil Aviation University in China has 2000 trainers. It has 265 aircraft for training purposes," the ICAO official pointed out.
Observing that aviation created high value jobs and has multiplier economic effect, Mishra said "one aircraft that comes to the country, creates 600 jobs, directly and indirectly. These were not regular jobs that paid Rs 5,000 or Rs 10,000 a month but those that paid Rs 50,000 or Rs 60,000."
"Essentially, necessary infrastructure needs to be created for RCS to become successful. Airports Authority of India has readied 55 airports and there they can start the RCS," Mishra added.

Meanwhile, the FICCI report suggested that Viability Gap Funding under RCS be extended from the proposed three to five years or more as these airfields might taken even longer to become financially sustainable.
RCS operators should also be allowed to use pilots, cabin and maintenance crew of other airlines and allow foreign registered aircraft for operations.