APAI calls for regulatory authority for civil aviation

Chennai, Mar 15 (UNI) The Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) today demanded the setting up of Aviation Regulatory Authority of India to oversee all aspects of civil aviation.

Addressing a press conference here, Association Founder President D Sudhakara Reddy also underscored the need to have an independent flight safety body like the National Transportation Safety Board in the US.

He said the increasing number of complaints being received by the APAI from passengers only exposed the need for them to be entitled to certain legal rights to help them claim compensation for deficiency of services.

Working in this direction, the APAI in consultation with legal experts, had initiated the exercise of drafting guidelines to provide air passengers with legal rights.

The final draft will be ready by the end of next month and will be forwarded to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Parliament for enacting a law.

Recalling the recent statement of Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Mr Reddy said he had confirmed as many as 21 air miss incidents occurred in 2005 compared to 13 in 2003 and 15 in 2004 and most of the planes were flown by foreign pilots.

Mr Reddy called for urgent action to avert any disaster He said a thorough safety audit had to be undertaken immediately for all airlines in terms of recruitment procedures for foreign pilots and cabin crew capability, because it was doubtful whether even basic guidelines were being followed.

Recalling the increase in retirement age for pilots to 65 years, Mr Reddy sought to know if any research or study had been done to ensure one was physically and mentally fit to handle a plane at the age and if so, whether the guidelines were being followed.

He said one also could not forget that Air India was recently pulled up by the competent court for flouting safety stipulations of IATA.

The recruitment of foreign pilots was here to stay but it can always be ensured only the best were taken into service,he noted.

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