Context:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has tabled the “Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024,” replacing the Aircraft Act 1934, in an effort to move beyond the colonial legacy of aviation and modernize the sector. The Aircraft Act 1934 was originally enacted to regulate the manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import, and export of aircraft.
Relevance:
GS II: Polity and Governance
Dimensions of the Article:
- Objectives of the New Bill
- Major Additions in the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024
- Need to Replace the Aircraft Act 1934
Objectives of the New Bill
- Streamlined Certification Process:
- Transfer the Radio Telephone Operator Restricted (RTR) Certificate and Licence testing process from the Department of Telecom (DoT) to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
- Simplifies the process for pilots by allowing them to secure all their certificates from a single authority.
- Empowerment of the Central Government:
- Authorize the Central Government to establish rules for implementing the Convention on international civil aviation and other civil aviation security matters.
- Enable the issuance of orders in emergencies to protect public safety or tranquility.
- Compensation Provisions:
- Provide for compensation for loss or damage in a manner prescribed by the Act.
- Establish processes for appealing decisions related to compensation, licenses, certificates, or approvals, and for adjudicating penalties.
- Penalties and Enforcement:
- Introduce provisions for imprisonment, fines, or penalties for violating the Act or its rules.
Major Additions in the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024
- Redefinition of Aircraft:
- Balloons and gliders are no longer classified as aircraft under the new Bill.
- Rule-Making Powers:
- Empower the Central Government to regulate the design, manufacture, maintenance, possession, use, operation, sale, export, or import of any aircraft or class of aircraft.
- Enhance safety regulations for aircraft operations.
- Increased Authority for Aviation Bodies:
- Grant more power to the DGCA, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to ensure the safety of the aviation environment.
- License and Certification Regulation:
- Empower the Central Government or authorized officers to suspend, cancel, or restrict any license or certification granted under the Act.
- Ensure the affected party is given an opportunity for a hearing before such actions are taken.
- Introduction of a Second Appeal:
- Add a concept of a second appeal against orders, creating an interim appeal between the initial appeal and the final appeal to the Secretary of MoCA.
Need to Replace the Aircraft Act 1934
- Addressing Amendments and Modernization:
- The Aircraft Act 1934 has undergone numerous amendments to enhance safety, oversight, and align with international conventions for sustainable aviation sector growth.
- The Bill aims to resolve ambiguities and confusion caused by these amendments.
- Removing Redundancies:
- Eliminate redundant provisions to simplify processes and improve the ease of doing business.
- Streamlined Regulations:
- Provide comprehensive regulations for the design, manufacture, and maintenance of aircraft and related equipment.
-Source: Times of India
