US FAA team in India to review safety oversight mechanism

The FAA had downgraded India to category II status in safety oversight capability in January last year.

In what may pave the way for a possible upgrade, a team from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has arrived to conclude its final review of India’s aviation safety oversight mechanism.

A senior official in the civil aviation ministry said, “The review will conclude on Tuesday. A final announcement is likely to be made by the end of the month.”

The FAA had downgraded India to category II status in safety oversight capability in January last year on two key concerns — lack of training of its officials and lack of full-time flight operations inspectors (FOIs) on DGCA’s rolls.

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The downgrade had barred all Indian airlines from expanding operations to the US and had further impacted code-share arrangements with American counterparts.

The DGCA had consequently attempted to fast-track processes and meet requirements pointed out by the FAA. The regulator had recruited 40 FOIs and institutionalised mechanisms within the organisation in areas of flight operations and airworthiness. The regulator has also established certification process for airlines and recertified two airlines — Air India and Jet Airways — operating to the US.

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