Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati meeting the Director of US Trade Development Agency, L I Zak, in New DelhiThe US will fund India to improve its overall aviation safety mechanism, including in the areas of operation, airworthiness and licensing. India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and United States Technical Development Agency (USTDA) on Tuesday signed the Grant Agreement for India Aviation Safety Technical Assistance Phase II.
Under the agreement, USTDA will partially fund improving systems at the DGCA. While USTDA’s assistance will be of $808,327, contractor firm The Wicks Group (TWG) would share the cost of assistance at $75,000.
The assistance, according to the ministry, became necessary after the International Civil Aviation Organization raised safety concerns about the country’s aviation in its audit report in 2012. Later, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) carried out an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) audit in September 2013 and a review in December 2013. After the assessment, India was assigned Category 2 safety rating in January 2014.
Under Phase I of the agreement, TWG had assisted DGCA in preparing for reassessment by FAA in December 2014, the ministry said.
The government’s contribution would be $446,866, including “in-kind cost share, valued at $196,866 for international round-trip air travel on Indian air carriers between the US and India and in-country ground transportation for the contractor during the duration of the assistance”. Besides, it would cover the cash cost share of $250,000.
In March 2014, the USTDA, in coordination with FAA, approached DGCA and offered assistance under a grant agreement to address issues in the wake of IASA audit findings.
Then, TWG assisted DGCA in addressing the issues and prepared for a reassessment by FAA in December 2014. Based on that reassessment and a follow-up visit in March 2015, India’s Category 1 status was restored in April 2015.
“Phase II of the current project is aimed at sustaining efforts undertaken during 2014 for restoration of IASA Category 1 status and bringing in more systemic improvements in the area of operation, airworthiness and licensing. It will include components on general aviation and business aviation,” the ministry of civil aviation said.
OFF TO A FLYING START
United States Technical Development Agency will fund $808,327, to improve systems at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA); contractor firm The Wicks Group (TWG) to share $75,000
The government’s contribution to be $446,866
The assistance became necessary after International Civil Aviation Organization raised safety concerns about India’s aviation, in its audit report in 2012
Under Phase I of the agreement, TWG had assisted DGCA in preparing reassessment by FAA
Story and photo: http://www.business-standard.com
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