Air India denies media reports on its licence

Mumbai, Jan 1 (UNI) National carrier Air India has said that aviation regulatory authority, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended its approval to maintain and repair the airline's aircraft (and other aircraft) for both Air India and erstwhile Indian up to 31 March 2008.

Reacting to the reports appeared in a section of media, which stated that national carrier Air India may lose maintenance licence today, an Air India spokesperson in a statement here, described the news report as ''premature and unwarranted''.

''The two carriers had been in communication with DGCA and made known their plans of submitting the Maintenance Organisation Exposition (MOE) for the National Aviation Corporation of India Limited (ACIL),'' the spokeperson said.

According to the official, both Air India and erstwhile Indian had prepared a Manual (Maintenance Organization Exposition-MOE) as per the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) 145 rule.

''However, after the merger of Air India and Indian, there was a need for a common MOE. Both the airlines are at the moment working on a combined manual for NACIL,'' he said.

Explaining the delay, the spokesperson said the time available since the merger, was inadequate to finalise the manual due to a big change in the structure of the organisation and formation of Strategic Business Units (SBUs).

Hence, both the airlines made an application to DGCA for extension of the date for implementation of CAR 145. In the interim, both the airlines requested DGCA for renewal of Approval of Organisation under the provision of existing CAR, the spokeperson said.

DGCA has recognised the need for the time required for this exercise and hence, has renewed the approval, he added.

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