Last year was pretty bad for the general aviation sector in India with about 19 business jets from India getting sold in the overseas markets, while the addition was just three. Business in this segment of the industry was becoming difficult, particularly with a lackadaisical approach of the government. At India Aviation, Hyderabad in March this year, there was a mixed feeling about the sector, despair on the one hand and hope on the other.

The air was thick with anticipation that a stable government would come in place and address not just the needs of the business aviation sector; but also of various sectors, all of which had been hit by policy paralysis. And then came the elections soon after, and the campaign by Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has become a trail-blazer in Indian elections. The Prime Ministerial-candidate criss-crossed the nation by private aircraft in one of the most invigorating campaigns ever. The impact of his campaign is there for all to see. Modi led the BJP to a thumping win, a good sign for the country which was looking forward to a stable government, away from coalition government that has had negative impact on decision-making.

After the general election, there is widespread optimism that governance would change for the better. Here the Secretary of Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA), Group Captain (Retd) R.K. Bali mentions the efforts being undertaken to impress upon the government the importance of general aviation.

SP’s Aviation (SP’s): Prime Minister, Narendra Modi as also other political entities used private aircraft extensively in their election campaigns. Having found enormous benefits of private aircraft, is the government making life better for business aviation or does the plight continue?

Group Captain (Retd) R.K. Bali (Bali): Having understood the benefits that business aviation affords in terms of flexibility and efficiency of operations, we expect the new government to do everything possible for ensuring optimal growth of general aviation (GA) and Business Aviation (BA) sectors in India. We believe the recent elections have underscored the importance of General and Business Aviation in terms of providing connectivity to the hinterland. GA & BA are an important tool to enable business, similarly it has enabled political leaders to reach out to the masses across length and breadth of our country.

SP’s: Have you approached the new government with pressing issues regulatory, particularly of the business aviation sector? If yes, could you give an update?

Bali: Yes. We have been doing so for the last two years. But there is a renewed effort with greater enthusiasm. We recently had a meeting with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, both of whom have agreed to address the key issues on infrastructure, taxation and regulatory impediments on high priority.

SP’s: In the recent past, the DGCA has eased regulatory nod for charter operators to fly to foreign destinations facilitating one-day approvals. How much of a difference will it make? Also is the regulator moving away from a rigid approach to business aviation?

Bali: This decision was taken last year. However, the implementation had left much to be desired. BAOA believes that these clearances to fly abroad should be dispensed with, keeping in mind the standard practices across the world.

SP’s: Is the negative growth continuing and fleet sizes are going down? How alarming is it?

Bali: It was alarming till the last year. However, things seem to have stabilised now and we are optimistic that the growth will return to the positive regime.

Cooperation and Not Confrontation

Till recently, the government has been at loggerheads with the Business Aircraft Operators Association and at the crux of all this was the perspective of those in the government that business aviation was for the rich and famous and that it did not need any support.

The three-year old BAOA has often mentioned that the Association was being unfairly targeted about safety standards in the industry. “It is dismaying to find that undue and subjective publicity is being given to the inspection reports of DGCA, involving aircraft of NSOP holders and private operators. We would like to submit that such subjective and adverse publicity is totally uncalled for, especially since these inspections are a matter of routine,” the BAOA had noted in a letter addressed to the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The BAOA has also clarified in the letter that these inspections should not be connected with the recent downgrade of India by the US Federal Aviation Administration. These are two independent events. Non-scheduled operators operate fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters that can be hired by anyone to fly to any destination that has landing facilities.

“It is not fair to make Indian non-scheduled aircraft operators a scapegoat to showcase DGCA’s authority by subjective reporting of the observations during these inspections,” the letter said. DGCA officials had dismissed the allegations saying media reports are about cases where there have been genuine lapses by the operators. “We cannot do anything about the concerns they have over reportage by the media,” a DGCA official has been quoted in the media.

On March 24, to ensure safety of operations during the election season, the DGCA had issued stringent safety guidelines and threatened to cancel the air operators’ permit of business jets and helicopters which failed to conform to these rules.

The guidelines were reissued after the aviation regulator found discrepancies in operating standards by a few nonscheduled operators. On March 22, DGCA had grounded a business jet owned by Reliance Commercial Dealers Ltd, as its safety equipment such as fire extinguisher and personal breathing device, were beyond expiry dates and the commander was found without his flying licence. The commander was suspended for this lapse. The plane was allowed to fly after the safety requirements were met with. The regulator also said an aircraft registered with Jindal Steel and Power had come under scrutiny on the same day. But since it had not made any major violation, it was not grounded. Four days after the guidelines were reissued, a Hawker 800 XP of SRC Aviation, which was to fly from Delhi to Colombo, was not allowed to takeoff.

The unanimous opinion in the industry is that the authorities need to formulate policies after mutual consultations and dialogue. Thereafter, if the operator violates rules, the DGCA could then be at liberty to take strict action. Cooperation is the way forward.

One-day clearance of charter flights

The DGCA has issued an Air Transport Circular on June 12, 2014, which gives clearances for private charter flights with just one day notice.

The DGCA said in order to facilitate the Non-Scheduled Operators’ Permit (NSOP) holders for obtaining flight clearance of Air Ambulances on Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays, it has authorised officers of DGCA to entertain such requests even at their residence. The DGCA has also decided that this facility will be extended to any other charter flights to be operated by Indian operators to destinations abroad. However, it said that minimum one day notice will be required for charter flights other than ambulance flights.

The officers who could be contacted at residence for approvals are Sunil Rathee, Assistant Director of Operations (Air Transport) 011–27570196 (Residence) and 8527154777 (Mobile) and Ved Prakash, Deputy Director of Operations (Air Transport) 011–25643622 (Residence) and 9958100896 (Mobile) 9958100896.