Kingfisher Airlines can now apply to the Government to start operations to the US while Air India and Jet Airways can think of American cities to which they fly.
This follows the Director General of Civil Aviation and the US’ Federal Aviation Administration signing an official agreement here on Wednesday. The need for the agreement was felt as, before permitting a foreign airline to operate to the US, the FAA, backed by US legislation, conducts an audit of the country concerned to ensure its capability in order to provide safety certification and continuing oversight of its international carrier.
The last time such an audit was carried out, India was carried out, India was found wanting and was warned that it might be shifted from Category I to Category II – a move that would not allow more Indian airlines to fly to the US or existing airlines to operate to more destinations.
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
To overcome this problem, the Government decided to employ more technical manpower in various departments, including creating 427 new position s, revalidating 98 technical positions, creating 150 technical staff positions and increasing the number and increasing the number of flight inspectors to 32 from only four previously.
These steps helped as, after a three-day detailed discussion, which ended on Wednesday. The FAA agreed not to remove India from its Category I status. Officials said.
Sources indicated that India was probably the only country, from among the 40 where such an audit had been done by the FAA, that has gone back to Category I after being downgraded.
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