Civil Aviation Authority to replace DGCA: Ajit Singh

Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh said, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is not well equipped to take up sector challenges and hence it needs to be replaced with a more power and autonomous body.

While addressing a press conference, Singh said, "The ministry is likely to present a Bill in the second part of the Budget session in the Parliament seeking to create the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which will be competent enough to sort out sector issues."

Singh pointed out that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has not been effective in regulating growing needs of the sector. "There is an urgency to replace the DGCA with a more authoritative body to reinforce safety and security of millions of passengers and airlines," the minister said.

CAA will have a separate fund. It will be self-funding and will also be given financial and operational freedom. It will have a chairperson, director-general and seven to nine members.

On Jet Air-Etihad deal, he said both parties are still working on a probable alliance.