Pilots Seek Autonomous Civil Aviation Authority
Federation of Indian Pilots urges Centre to replace DGCA with an independent statutory regulator
- FIP has urged PM Modi to establish an autonomous Civil Aviation Authority.
- Proposal cites DGCA’s structural and financial limitations.
- Calls for independent funding, expert recruitment and faster regulation.
- Reform aims to strengthen aviation safety and global compliance.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th Aug: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish an autonomous statutory Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), saying India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector requires an independent regulator with greater financial and administrative powers.
In a proposal submitted on August 6, FIP President Capt. C.S. Randhawa said India, now the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, continues to rely on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, despite significant growth in air traffic, fleet size and emerging aviation technologies.
The pilots’ body argued that the current regulatory framework faces institutional and financial constraints, including dependence on government approvals, limited flexibility in hiring specialised aviation professionals and reliance on annual budget allocations despite generating regulatory revenues.
The proposal recommends creating a self-sustaining Civil Aviation Authority funded through licensing fees, user charges and safety audits, with the power to recruit industry experts on market-based salaries. It also calls for a professional governing board, dedicated mechanisms for passenger grievances and environmental compliance, and greater operational independence.
According to the FIP, an autonomous regulator would improve compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety standards, accelerate licensing processes, strengthen fatigue risk management and enhance global confidence in India’s aviation oversight system.
Copies of the proposal have also been sent to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Civil Aviation Secretary S.K. Sinha, Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
