It will replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act, 1934 (for the control of the manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import and export of aircraft).
Key Highlights of the Bill
- Aim: To address the ambiguities in the existing law and for ease of doing business & manufacturing in aviation sector.
- Important Provisions:
- To empower the Central Government to make rules to implement the Convention relating to international civil aviation.
- E.g., Chicago Convention (1944) and the International Telecommunication Convention (1932).
- To give the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) increased powers.
- To empower the Central Government to issue orders (like detaining aircraft) in emergency in the interest of public safety.
- To empower the Central Government to make rules to implement the Convention relating to international civil aviation.
Significance of the Bill
- Regulating the design and manufacturing of aircraft is in alignment with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
- Wider coverage to cover drones, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), flying taxis and certain electronic gliders.
- Cater to the needs of a rapidly growing market for aviation.
- ICRA estimates that domestic air passenger traffic will grow by 8–13% in FY2024.
