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Dr Nassim Zaidi, Secretary Civil Aviation, who
talked about the challenges and opportunities
in the civil aviation sector while launching India
Aviation 2012 stressed that as the sector was
booming with more planes coming into India and
exponential passenger growth, there would be pressure
on infrastructure and regulatory issues.
These challenges would have to be met, he said
and announced that the Directorate General of
Civil Aviation was getting restructured to meet
the future needs of the sector. The ministry is
planning to set up an independent accident investigation
board and was establishing an ombudsman for civil
aviation by September 2011.
Dinesh Keskar, Chairman of the FICCI Aviation
Committee and Boeing India President said that
India had ‘the fastest growth’ in civil aviation
at 8 per cent passenger growth. In 2011, the number
of passengers would cross 60 million.
India Aviation 2012, the third edition, organized
jointly by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and
the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (FICCI) will be held from March 14
to 18 at Hyderabad. The event has the United Kingdom
as the ‘partner country’ and USA as the ‘guest
country’ under the aegis of the US Commercial
Services. France will be the ‘focus country’ for
the event.
India Aviation 2012 has already attracted 25
per cent more participation from the previous
event. The exhibition and conference on civil
aviation will witness exhibitors from sectors
such as aircraft, aircraft machinery & equipment
companies, aircraft interiors, airlines, airline
services and air cargo, skill development and
airport infrastructure.
Zaidi informed that the government was keen on
developing Mumbai and Chennai as hubs, in addition
to Delhi so as to take on the competition from
the region. General aviation, seaplanes, regional
aviation and MRO would get a boost under these
development plans.
He announced that a bilateral safety agreement
with the US would be signed shortly. The agreement
would allow India to export aeronautical products
to the US.
The Deputy Head of Trade, British High Commission,
Jane Sanders said that the UK was looking at enhanced
cooperation with India in the civil aviation sector.
“We see India as a huge market and it has come
up in such short time. The growth has to be sustained.”
The UK has design and manufacturing capabilities
in advanced aircraft wings etc and there could
be synergies with Indian companies.
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