Cabinet okays amendments to 1934 Aircraft Act

New Delhi, June 22: The Union Cabinet today approved certain amendments in the Aircraft Act, 1934, pertaining to acquiring necessary power to exercise supervisory control on the standards of airports and making rules to ensure civil aviation security.

Announcing this after a meeting of the Union Cabinet, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram told newspersons here that the Amendment Bill in this regard will be moved in Parliament.

Following the amendment, the Government will acquire the necessary power to exercise supervisory control on the standards of airports and communication/navigation/surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) facilities, to license the personnel engaged in air traffic control and to make rules to ensure civil aviation security.

The amendments would ensure that the safety oversight functions are performed effectively by the Director General of Civil Aviation.

The enhancement in the quantum of penalties is likely to have the desired deterrent effect and hence would go a long way in raising compliance level.

UNI