Message from President, BAOA

Such types of unilateral & uncontrolled actions are a big blow to the survival & growth of GA/BA industry. Such unexpected surgical blows require immediate intervention by the regulatory authorities for a just resolution on a high priority.

For BAOA, the last three months have been quite eventful in its interaction with the aviation policy makers and regulators. This included a presentation to the Civil Aviation Secretary on July 15 with the theme of suggesting ways forward to further invigorate the GA/BA industry. Simultaneously, on DGCA initiative, BAOA has now been enabled to be more proactive in meaningful and progressive interaction with the Aviation Regulator. Two regular monthly meetings of DGCA with NSOP operators have already been held with a view to resolve ‘actual’ or ‘perceived’ issues facing the GA/BA industry, with more to follow on a regular monthly basis.

Earlier, BAOA highlighted the immediate need to rationalise the exorbitant ‘ground handling (GH) charges’ being arbitrarily levied on NSOP operators by the two sole concessionaires at Delhi Airport. Illustratively, a typical ‘to-&-fro’ charter, involving take-off from Delhi Airport, staying outstation and same-day return to Delhi, involves GH charges (out and in) by the concessionnaire at Delhi Airport , as well as in/out GH charges at outstation by a different (local) GH agency. At Delhi Airport, for a Super King Air B200 (a near 6-tonne) class of turbo-prop aircraft, during the FY 2018-19, the concessionnaires charged 16,800 per handling (one out and corresponding in). During the FY 2019-20, however, this has been raised to an exorbitant 29,700: an increase by nearly 77 per cent on the Base Rate in one year!!! For a Gulfstream G150 (a near 12-tonne) class of business jet aircraft, the corresponding increase is from 26,400 to 41,250 (56 per cent increase in one FY!). In all cases, 18 per cent GST is additional. Such unexpected surgical blows require immediate intervention by the regulatory authorities for a just resolution on a high priority.

As always, BAOA would look forward to a pro-active and whole -hearted participation from all our members to meet the current and likely future challenges so as to ensure healthy and accelerated growth of GA/BA industry in india.

Jai Hind!