There are 5 international airports in India, one each at Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport at Palam), Mumbai (Sahar), Kolkata (Dum Dum), Chennai (Meenamabakkam) and Thiruvananthapuram. In our country, there are 87 aerodromes and 20 civil aviation enclaves that are maintained by the Department of Civil Aviation.

India has bilateral air services agreements with 90 countries of the world (as on January 1, 1998). Private airports are being set up in many parts of the country. Four international airports at 4 metropolitan cities of Indian would be privatised soon. Air transport is cheaper than first class fares of Rajdhani Express, the prestigious train of India.

This industry was hitherto being developed on the basis of and AI. But after the entry of private players, the scenario has changed. The government may reduce its stake in both of these airlines and allow the private investors to play crucial roles in their management and day-to- day operations.

When these airlines are fully or partially privatized, the role of the government would be limited to regulation of their operations. That stage- has not arrived yet.

Some regulatory agencies of the government that control civil aviation operations in India are as follows.

1. Directorate General of Civil Aviation:

It is a regulatory organisation that enforces civil air regulations in India. It is responsible for: (a) regulation of air transport services to/ from and within India; regulation of civil aircraft in the country; (c) formulation of standards of airworthiness for civil aircraft registered in India and grant of certificates of airworthiness to such aircraft; (d) licensing of pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and flight engineers; (e) licensing of aerodromes in India; (f) investigation of air accidents and other accidents; and (g) implementation.

It is responsible for: (a) type certification of civil aircraft, engines, propellers and equipment; (b) approval of modification and repair schemes of civil aircraft; (c) development testing of indigenous aircraft materials, parts and equipment; (d) scientific laboratory investigation on failed aircraft, structural parts and components; (e) design and development of gliders, light trainer aircraft and glider launching winches; (f) quality control monitoring and testing of fuel samples; and (g) economics of aircraft operations and performance evaluation.

2. Ministry of Civil Aviation:

It is responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for the development and regulation of civil aviation and also, for devising and implementing schemes for orderly growth and expansion of airport facilities, air traffic services and movement of passengers and goods by air. This ministry is also responsible for the Commission of Railway Safety.

At present, Mr. Rajiv Pratap Rudy is the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation (Independent charge). The BJP-led government in the centre is undertaking bold steps to modernise the air transport sector of the economy.

3. Union Ministry of Tourism:

Mr. Jagmohan is the Union Minister of Tourism and heads this ministry. The budget for tourism for the Tenth Five Year Plan is Rs 2,900 crore; the previous allocation for this sector was Rs 525 crore. Mr. Vinod Khanna is Minister of State for Tourism in the union ministry.

This ministry is trying to involve private firms in the task of development of tourism infrastructure. Mr. Khanna has stated that the ministry has chalked out programmes to involve the private sector in the plans and programmes of the ministry.

4. Bureau of Civil Aviation Security:

This Bureau is being headed by an officer of the rank of Director General of Police. His designation is Commissioner of Security (Civil Aviation). He is assisted by 3 Additional Commissioner (DlGs), 6 Deputy Commissioners and 10 Assistant Commissioners in the headquarters. There are 4 regional offices of the Bureau, one each at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Each one of these is headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner. Each regional headquarters has a bomb detection and disposal squad, which is headed by an officer of the rank of Major and called Deputy Commissioner of Security, BDDS.

He is assisted by another officer of Indian Army, called Controller of Explosives. Units of dog squads have also been provided, one each at the regional headquarters and one at the Srinagar airport (Jammu and Kashmir).

The Bureaus overseas the security of various airports, which is taken care of by the state police/ CISF/airlines/Airports Authority of India. It does not have security personnel of its own. It monitors and inspects the security arrangements at domestic airports and security aspects of Air India and Indian Airlines at foreign airports.

It also trains personnel in the field of aviation security. It evaluates the equipment related to aviation security. It coordinates with various authorities, international bodies and state governments for the development of an implementation of security procedures.

Finally, it is responsible for the formulation of policies related to civil aviation security based on the manual of the ICAO and Annexure 17. The Bureau also puts up proposals on improvements in the civil aviation security System. This is an advisory function of the Bureau.

The Bureau has laid down norms for strict access control by regulating entries to the airports. The entry is made by employees of airlines, the AAI, government officials and air operators through photo identity cards. It has ensured the implementation of a system of one-time entry permits for those who want to visit the airport.

It has developed norms and regulations for checking of tickets, baggage and persons at various points of airports. It gives training to the personnel of the CISF, police and the AAI staff in the field of security.

It has coordinated with the security setups at different national and international organisations. The officials of the Bureau monitor security arrangements at different airports through inspection procedures and surprise checks.

The CISF has been made operational at 37 airports on all the routes and also, on a random basic. National Security Guards are sent as Sky Marshals. The Bureau has also implemented a system of Ladder Point Frisking on all points at all the airports by all the airlines.

The BDDS unit of the Bureau checks metropolitan airports on a regular basis. During 2001, 53 training programmes were conducted by the Bureau to give security training. A Task Force has been constituted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to review the Contingency Plan.

For a travel agent, it is frequently necessary to use several airlines to complete a trip and since no one airlines services every city, it becomes essential for the travel agent to know the major route structure and remember the general geographic regions being served.

5. Airports Authority of India:

Known as the AAI, this Authority was formed on April 1, 1995. It was the result of the merger of the International Airports Authority of India and the National Airports Authority of India. It is responsible for the provision of safe and efficient air traffic services and aeronautical communication services for effective country of the air traffic in the air space of India.

It manages 124 airports, including 11 international airports, 86 domestic airports and 27 civil aviation enclaves at defence airfields. It also manages the Indian air space that is beyond the territorial limits of the country. It does so according to the norms stipulated by the ICAO.

The major functions of the AAI include.

(i) The provision of safe and efficient air traffic services, communication and navigation aids at all the airports;

(ii) The planning, development, construction and maintenance of runways, taxiways, aprons and terminal buildings;

(iii) The provision of Air Safety Services; and

(iv) The arrangement of search and rescue facilities in coordination with other agencies.

Besides, it also performs such functions as have been described in the AAI Act.

Further, the Authority has a Civil Aviation Training College at Allahabad. It gives training to candidates in the areas of air traffic control, radars, communication and the like. The Authority also manages the National Institute of Aviation management and Research (NIAMAR) at Delhi.

This institute conducts aviation management programmes and refresher courses. It also manages a Fire Service Training School at Narayanpur (near Kolkata) and a Fire Training Centre at New Delhi.

6. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy:

It is located at Fursatganj (UP). It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It trains pilots to achieve high standards in flying and ground training.

It is equipped with modern trainer aircraft, flight simulators, Computer Based Training systems (CBTs), and ATC and runway air space. It also has various audio-visual training aids and facilities to impart training in flying and ground operations.

Its instructors are one of the best in the world. Flying training is imparted aboard Trinidad TB-20 (single-engine aircraft) and King Air C-90A (twin-engine turbo prop executive class aircraft). The academy also conducts courses to grant Commercial Pilots Licenses (CPLs) to trainees.

These courses also comprise multi-engine sophisticated aircraft endorsement and instrument rating. Till 2003, the academy had trained 376 Fixed Wing Pilots and 20 Rotary Pilot of Indian and foreign origins. Refresher training on simulators has been given to 146 persons.

The academy has also trained 42 non-commercial pilots on multi-engine endorsement. It has also started a degree course- BSc in Civil Aviation- for the first time in India. The CPI, course is also a regular feature of the academy.

7. Air Corporation Act:

Prior to 1946, Tata Airlines was conducting flights to some cities of India. On July 29, 1946, the government took over Tata Airlines and formed Air India Limited. It also took over all the aircraft, engineering facilities and equipment of Tata Airlines. In 1948, Air India International Limited was formed after the government gave the approval to start air services between India and the UK.

But the government was keen to nationalise the civil aviation industry. Hence, in March, 1953, it passed an Act in the Parliament. It was called Air Corporation Act (1953). It nationalised 8 scheduled airlines under the Act to form Indian Airlines in 1953.

Further, Air India was established as a statutory corporation under this Act. The operations and assets of Air India International Limited were taken over by the government from August 1, 1953.

This industry was hitherto beginning developed on the basis of operations of IA and AI. But after the entry of private players, the scenario has changed. The government may reduce its stake in both of these airlines and allow the private investors to play crucial roles in their management and day-to- day operations.

When these airlines are fully or partially privatised, the role of the government would be limited to regulation of their operations. That stage has not arrived yet.

Some regulatory agencies of the government that control civil aviation operations in India are as follows.

The Air Corporation Act (1953) was repealed on March 1, 1994. This was done to facilitate the entry of private airlines in the field of domestic civil aviation. Thus, the monopoly of Air India, Indian Airlines and Vayudoot was ended over scheduled air transport services.