By Staff Correspondent
Air traffic in India has surged beyond expectations as the memories of pandemic lockdowns fade into the distance. Airlines and airports have reported record passenger numbers, even during the traditionally weak March quarter for the industry. As Air India and IndiGo prepare to bring hundreds of new aircraft into service over the next eight years, the outgoing chief of India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Arun Kumar, believes that India’s aviation regulation needs upgrading to facilitate the coming aviation boom.
In a recent interview, Kumar highlighted some of his key achievements during his tenure. One of his most significant accomplishments was upgrading India’s safety oversight capability ranking, improving the country’s ranking from being placed around 130th rank and 105th rank among 193 nations to the 48-49th spot. Kumar also oversaw the electronic rollout of services offered by the DGCA through their e-GCA, which brought ease of doing business to the aviation sector. Additionally, Kumar implemented new drug regulations and brought air traffic controllers, ground handlers, and aircraft maintenance engineers under breathalyzer testing for alcohol.
Despite these achievements, there are still challenges ahead for aviation regulation. Kumar acknowledged that India lags in aircraft investigation and needs to upgrade its technical manpower. Additionally, Kumar believes that DGCA needs to make its regional and sub-offices more robust to ensure adequate surveillance and safe landings. The industry’s capacity proliferates, and the DGCA must strengthen itself to keep pace. The DGCA has been allowed to fill up some 400 technical posts, which they plan to do over the next one or two years. Kumar aims to add 1,000 more people to DGCA personnel by 2030 to improve safety oversight.
During his tenure, Kumar faced several challenges, including addressing the issue of Pratt & Whitney engines and in-flight shutdown complaints from two major airlines. Kumar expedited engine replacements and brought the situation under control in three to six months. Kumar also faced technical glitches during the last monsoon, which occurred when airplanes were returning to service after covid-related groundings. In recent times, the new concern has been of unruly passengers on board. Kumar believes existing regulations are sufficient for the time being but that the DGCA needs to implement them rigorously.
As the industry recovers from the pandemic, Kumar believes the worst is over. Air traffic of around 440,000 to 450,000 passengers daily is a vast and sustainable indicator of this. Airports are also back in profits, and Kumar is optimistic about the industry’s future. With Kumar’s efforts to upgrade India’s aviation regulation, India may soon join countries like South Korea, Singapore, and UAE in the top 20 or 25 in safety oversight ranking.
