India-US Aviation Safety Pact To Open Up Exports .

A landmark bilateral aviation safety agreement has been approved by the Cabinet to be signed with the US, during the visit of Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State, during her visit on July 18.

The proposed agreement will open up a huge market for export of aeronautical products manufactured in the US and other regions of the world.

This will also throw up huge potential for investment in India, the fastest growing aviation market with passenger traffic at 90 million (both domestic and international) and growing at 18 per cent year on year basis.

Already, major companies such as Air Works India Engineering Pvt. Ltd., Bombardier, Bell Helicopters, CAA Bahrain, CAE, HAL, Hawker BeechCraft, Indocopters Ltd., International Aero Engines, Lufthansa Technik, RollsRoyce, The Boeing Company, EADS, Airbus, Agustwestland have given an overwhelming response and confirmed their participation at the third edition of India Aviation, the “India Aviation-2012” international exhibition and conference on civil aviation to be held at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, from March 14-18, 2012. The aviation mega show being organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation jointly with FICCI was kicked off on Thursday by Nasim Zaidi, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation.   

In what is seen as a thumping evidence of India Aviation 2012’s importance and business opportunities opening up in India’s civil aviation sector, over 250 exhibitors will be participating in the show, representing aircraft manufacturers, aircraft machinery and equipment companies, aircraft interiors, airlines, airlines services and air cargo, skill development, airport and infrastructure.

The exhibition to be spread over as area of 20,000 square meters, has UK as the partner country for the 2012 event with France as focus country and USA as the guest country.

According to Zaidi, plans to transform India into a hub include restructuring the Directorate General of Civil Aviation into a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). An independent Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Committee has been set up in order to prevent repetitive accidents.

Steps are also under way to set up a full-fledged Independent Accident Investigation Board.

A task force is working in the ministry to prepare an outline to set up an ombudsman institution in the civil aviation sector.

Besides, the government is planning 10 green field airports and upgradation of 80 airports to meet all operational communication requirements of air traffic services.

Alliance Air also proposes to develop green fields airports for ATR-72 operation in three states of India.

Training facilities at Indra Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy (IGRUA) will also be upgraded and the IGRUA is planning to spend $5.25 million for this single project.

The Government also proposes to establish a premier pilot training institute at Gondia, Maharashtra and will look for entering into joint ventures.

There are however, pockets of concern in the airline sector including the precarious financial situation of the airlines, the rising fuel prices, the congestion at the airports, shortage of pilots and high airport charges, Zaidi acknowledged.

Source : expressbuzz.com