The government is planning to set up a civil aviation safety advisory council in the wake of the devastating Mangalore crash of an Air-India Express aircraft. The proposal was mooted during a high-level meeting at the ministry presided over by civil aviation minister Praful Patel.
“The establishment of the council is a proposal at a preliminary stage,” highly-placed ministry sources said. The council is expected to include air traffic controllers, Indian Air Force representatives, representatives of commercial aircraft manufacturers, airline representatives, airport operators, pilots, as well as the government officials. It could be headed by the DGCA. ministry sources said the council would provide “feedback” to the DGCA on aviation safety. The meeting also discussed proposals of airport safety audits and monthly aviation reports to the government on the safety situation.
The government had recently approved the extension in employment of foreign pilots by a year but could come under pressure from Indian pilot unions who are opposed to the extension.