DGCA said that the new ‘Civil Aviation Requirements’ (CAR) has been prepared after detailed consultation which will strengthen the monitoring system. It also mentions the training and skill requirements of airport personnel.
Airport New Service: The country’s aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued safety norms for air handling service providers at airports, including mandatory security clearance requirements. DGCA has taken this step as part of efforts to ensure safe operation of aircraft at airports amid increased air traffic. These rules have also been made in the backdrop of incidents of damage to aircraft at some airports.
DGCA issued civil aviation requirements
In a release on Wednesday, the DGCA said that the new Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) have been prepared after detailed consultations and will strengthen the monitoring system. It also mentions the training and skill requirements of airport personnel who are part of the operations of aircraft there.
CAR was released on July 8
Ground Handling Service Providers (GHSP) have to obtain security clearance from DGCA within six months. This six-month period started from July 8 when the regulator issued the CAR.
Security will be strengthened at the airport
According to the release, the robust security mechanism to be implemented by airport service providers will help in preventing and reducing adverse events during aircraft operations at airports. Under the new rules, these service providers will have to appoint accountable managers, station managers and security managers. Among other things, airport personnel will have to undergo updated training.
Keeping in view the unprecedented growth in aircraft operations and the increasing role of third parties in the operation of aircraft at airports, the DGCA said that it has become imperative to establish safety standards for GHSPs involved in the maintenance of aircraft at Indian airports. This is an area which was not covered under any existing regulation till now. Factors such as large aircraft and increase in the number of ancillary equipment at airports increase the operational safety challenge.
The DGCA said that unlike other sectors of the aviation industry, the ‘ground handling’ sector is currently not under regulation in areas such as flight operations, air traffic management and airport operations. It said that therefore it has become necessary to achieve operational safety of aircraft at airports.
