Monday, June 12 2006 17:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which is monitoring individual airports' adherence to safety standards, is in the process of issuing licenses to three airports based on their security compliance after granting similar licenses to those in Delhi and Mumbai.

"Airports Authority of India has submitted applications for (airports at) Kolkata, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram. The paper work is on... we are inspecting these airports as part of the due process to grant them licenses," DGCA Director General Kanu Gohain said on the sidelines of a conference on helicopters safety here today.

Under the new international aviation standards, individual airports have to avail licenses on the basis of their maintaining safety and security standards.

Gohain said the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) also audits airports and all related facilities and India has last year got the top most level of 'A' audit grade. We want to maintain that this year as well.

To questions on increasing the number of flying hours for pilots from 1,000 to 1,200 hours per annum to improve productivity, he said, "We will take a concerted view" only after any such proposal came.

"We will have to keep in mind international practices relating to Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) as also the fatigue factor. But modern aircraft are also easier to operate," Gohain said, adding that decision would be taken after consultations with global bodies like ICAO.

The FDTL regulations govern the pilots' hours of work among other things and has been a crucial issue between pilots unions and the airlines the world over.

In an effort to ensure imparting of proper flying training for issue of pilot licenses, Gohain said new Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) have been issued to lay down necessary requirements and stringent guidelines for flight training institutes.

Prior approval of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) would have to be taken if foreign investment is planned for setting up such institutions in the country. Besides, such institutes would have to get necessary approvals for import of aircraft, simulators and should have adequate space for hangars, parking bays and taxi tracks, apart from classrooms.

Asked about shortage of pilots, the DGCA said besides increasing the retirement age from 60 to 65 years, the licenses of foreign pilots were being validated after various regulatory tests and proficiency exams.

Gohain said fresh guidelines were being issued for operational safety of helicopters in the country. DGCA, he said, would take 'stern action' against breaking of rules by helicopter pilots.

Major number of such instances occur due to pressures on pilots by VIP passengers, particularly during election campaign time.

India has a total of 140 helicopters in civil operation, constituting a mere 0.5 per cent of the total world population of choppers, compared with over 12,000 in the US, which is almost half of the world's helicopters.