By Staff Correspondent
The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has undertaken decisive measures to augment its human resources amid a surge in the civil aviation sector that has propelled the country to be the world’s third-largest market in the industry.
This growth, catalysed by the execution of the Greenfield Policy and the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) over the past nine years, has led to an upsurge in the number of new airports and the operationalisation of existing ones previously underserved or not served at all. With the significant aircraft induction by airline operators, the Indian civil aviation sector has seen an exceptional rise in demand.
Consequently, the Ministry has deemed it necessary to substantially boost the institutional infrastructure. A total of 1,222 positions have been created across the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), amplifying its capacity to ensure compliance with safety standards.
DGCA, India’s aviation safety regulator, has added 416 new positions. With the roles filled by highly competent pilots, air traffic controllers and aircraft/aeronautical engineers, the regulator will be better equipped to ensure air safety, airworthiness standards, and effective aviation personnel licensing and training.
In parallel, AERA, which has the pivotal role of economic regulation of Indian airports, now has 10 new posts to facilitate efficient functioning. It aims to create a balanced competitive landscape among major airports, promote investment and regulate tariffs for aeronautical services.
Meanwhile, the AAI, responsible for developing, managing, and operating airports countrywide, has initiated 796 positions for Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCO). This move comes at a crucial time when there is an urgent need for ATCOs due to the accelerated growth of the civil aviation sector, preventing potential adverse comments from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and a possible negative impact on India’s global ranking and passenger safety.
The Ministry, by strategically enhancing the manpower within the aviation ecosystem, aims to cater efficiently to the soaring industry demands. This proactive step is a significant stride towards upholding air travel safety in India amidst rapid sector growth.
