Turbulence over old planes’ import led to DGCA exit

The move prompted the Prime Minister’s Office to ask the civil aviation ministry why Bhushan was removed a week after the cabinet’s appointments committee had approved his extension.

The civil aviation ministry,sources told The Indian Express,wanted to ease rules that govern the import of aircraft,and allow older planes to be brought into the country,saying the current restrictions were too stringent.

In May this year,Aviation Minister Ajit Singh had approved changes in the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) regarding the import of aircraft and directed the DGCA to issue the new guidelines.

According to the existing CAR,pressurised aircraft that fly at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet cannot be older than 15 years and non-pressurised aircraft such as helicopters and smaller,training planes cannot be more than 20 years old.

The move to amend these restrictions began in April this year,with the ministry saying that “it had received representations that these requirements are stringent and are the cause of high lease rentals. It has been stated that when the aircraft are good,restricting the life of pressurised aircraft to 15 years is not justified. The industry has requested for removal of age-old restrictions,while approving cases for import of aircraft”.

An official note from the ministry also said that such restrictions were “unique to India” and “have not been imposed in any other country”. But Bhushan,who sources said considers older aircraft a safety hazard,did not respond to the ministry’s move and refused to issue the new guidelines. Bhushan,the sources said,feared that the move would turn India into a dumping ground for old aircraft which operate on obsolete technology and communication systems.

The other contentious issue related to giving Non-Scheduled Operator Permits (NSOP). While commercial airlines which operate flights according to a published schedule are known as scheduled operators,firms which offer services such as charters and do not operate under any schedule are categorised as non-scheduled operators (NSOs). While aircraft used by NSOs attract a lower duty,some private firms are known to import planes using NSOPs but use them for personal travel.

Such violations by some NSOs had led to their permits being cancelled and the DGCA had even told the ministry that it would not renew such NSOPs. Sources said that earlier this year,the ministry received a representation from a Mumbai-based business house for renewal of the NSOP licence of its jet and the ministry overruled the DGCA by granting a three-month extension to allow a flight to Brussels.

When contacted,Ajit Singh said Bhushan’s removal was a routine move and it was only Bhushan’s additional charge that had been taken away. A senior Civil Aviation ministry officer said that Bhushan’s extension as DGCA chief had been approved by previous minister Vayalar Ravi and not by Singh.

Moreover,a proposal to name a permanent DGCA head was being processed,the officer added. Ajit Singh is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday to explain the controversy,he said.

Bhushan was not available for comment.