India, US launch aviation panel to train ATCs

A joint Aviation Steering Committee between India and the US was formed on Friday to boost cooperation and develop a bilateral aviation work plan between the two nations. The committee will initially focus on air traffic control, flight standards, airports, airworthiness and environmental issues. US Federal Aviation Administration8217;s FAA Assistant Administrator for International Aviation, James Filippatos, who was in New Delhi, said air traffic control will get top priority due to an increased number of flights between the countries. A total of five working groups, each chaired jointly by a senior officer from the FAA and his equivalent counterpart from India, have been formed to develop and implement a work plan. The countries have also signed an agreement to train Indian Air Traffic Controllers under an Aviation Cooperation Programme ACP.