New Delhi: Government has begun search
for an aviation professional to head the regulatory body
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The need for having an aviation professional to lead
the DGCA was being strongly felt as IAS officers have been
heading the organisation which is essentially of a technical
nature since 2008.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has issued an
advertisement which makes it mandatory for the applicant to
have at least twelve years of experience in aviation, flying,
aircraft engineering or airworthiness, besides five years of
experience in administrative or financial disciplines.
Officers from the Indian Air Force of the rank of Air
Marshal are also eligible to apply for the post of Director
General.
At a time when it is being found that forged
certificates are being used to get pilots' licenses which are
issued by the DGCA, the government is also insisting on the
applicants submitting an integrity certificate and "a
statement of major/minor penalties imposed, if any, during
preceding 10 years".
Kanu Gohain was the last officer to head the DGCA and
reached the top from within the organisation. Senior IAS
officer and India's representative at the International Civil
Aviation Organisation, S N A Zaidi, took over the reins of the
aviation regulator from Gohain.
A senior officer of the body had even gone to court
challenging the appointment of Zaidi on several grounds,
including that he was not a technical hand.
After Zaidi was promoted as Secretary in the Civil
Aviation Ministry, incumbent E K Bharat Bhushan, also an
administrative officer, took over the post in December last
year.
In its bid to promote safe and efficient air
transportation, the DGCA lays down guidelines, rules and
regulations on a wide range of aviation and related activities
-- from technical aspects of safety to checking undue hikes in
air fares.
However with the rapid expansion in aviation
activities in India, new organisations like the Airport
Economic Regulatory Authority are being set up to ensure that
DGCA carries out its primary role of ensuring that flying is
safe in the country.
PTI
First Published: Friday, March 11, 2011, 16:24