The proposal to have a commission was driven by the idea of promoting and integrating various organisations related to aviation and aeronautics sectors that are working under different ministries.
The commission, which will have representatives from the government, industry and research organisations, is expected to bring various scientific institutes and the industry involved in aeronautics sector under one umbrella. Apart from formulating policies for management of airspace, the commission will also help in optimising resources in aviation sector.
According to sources, the scientific advisory committee to the prime minister had recently reviewed a proposal in this regard. The committee has made certain recommendations that will be sent to the prime minister in next couple of weeks.
"The scientific advisory committee to the prime minister has reviewed it and the review recommendations will soon be submitted to the prime minister. We are all enthusiastic about it," a source close to the development told Business Standard.
"The aeronautics commission is expected to consolidate the talent within the country and giving focus to the R&D efforts in aeronautics. That is the main objective, and I hope this will go a long way," said ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair.
The scientific committee to the prime minister in its proposal has recommended that the aeronautics commission should work as an autonomous body. the committee will also report to the defence minister.
"The structure proposed by the committee envisages that the commission will be the nodal body of the aeronautics agencies in the country, and will report to the Raksha Mantri," the source added.
The civil and defence aviation industries in India including research organisations had long been demanding for the establishment of a commission.
Addressing a conference on Aerospace Science and Technology in Bangalore recently, former director of National Aerospace Laboratories Roddam Narasimha said the aeronautics sector in the country was not limited by technology, but by a policy.
"There is no national aeronautical policy and the aeronautics commission recommended in the 1970s, with the objective of bringing various science institutes under one umbrella, has not taken off," he said.
