Mumbai, Dec 7 (PTI) Domestic private jet operatorswill no longer need clearance from the aviation regulator foroverseas flights, as the government has decided to do awaywith the requirement, a move being seen as a step to boostease-of-doing business.
Revised norms, applicable at airports with custom andimmigration facilities, will come into effect from December15, an official release said today.
"This is a step forward in facilitating the ease ofdoing business for the business and general aviationindustry," said Rohit Kapoor, president, Business AircraftOperators Association (BAOA), an industry lobby group.
Presently, prior permission (called YA number) of theDirectorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is mandatory forIndian-registered charters or private jets to fly out ofIndia.
Suitable amendments have already been made in theCivil Aviation Requirement (CAR) for such operations, therelease said.
"As part of the continuous effort for simplificationof regulatory requirements for aircraft operations in thecountry, DGCA has revised the CAR... regarding requirementsfor issue of non-scheduled flight clearances by DGCA forIndian registered aircraft," it said.
"Indian aircraft operators approved/authorised toundertake international operations shall not be required toobtain prior permission from DGCA for undertakinginternational non-scheduled flights from/to airports withcustom/immigration facilities," the release said.
The approved operators can carry out internationaloperations by filing a flight plan with the concerned ATCunit, it added.
Both scheduled and non-scheduled operators arecertified by DGCA for undertaking international operations incompliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practises(SARPs) and are given an `area of operationsÂ’ based on theiroperational capabilities.
As part of the relaxed norms, the DGCA will also issuean authorisation, valid for five years, to private aircraftoperators for carrying out overseas flights based on ICAOSARPs norms, the release added.
"We welcome the civil aviation ministry's efforts toremove the pre-condition of obtaining YA number forIndian-registered business and charter aircraft jets," Kapoorsaid.
Business jets are not merely a luxury but in mostcases a necessity in terms of gaining quick access andconnectivity where time is of essence, he said, adding doingaway with YA number will ensure that Indian operators can flyoverseas without delay. PTI IASKRK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.