TBM Staff - Mumbai
The government on Thursday introduced the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha, aimed at replacing the nearly 90-year-old Aircraft Act to modernise India’s aviation laws and support industry growth. Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu emphasised the need for new legislation, noting that the Aircraft Act of 1934 had become outdated due to multiple amendments, leading to ambiguities and contradictions, particularly in the functioning of internal organisations like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
During the discussion, Naidu highlighted the importance of aligning India’s aviation laws with global standards to address existing discrepancies and foster industry expansion. He explained that the new Bill would regulate various aspects of the aviation sector, including aircraft design, manufacturing, maintenance, and operations, thus providing a clearer legal framework for the industry.
Congress MP Adoor Prakash raised concerns about the Bill, arguing that it seemed more focused on benefiting industrialists rather than addressing the needs of the common man. He also criticised the government’s lack of attention to climate change, given aviation’s contribution to global emissions, and called for a review of soaring airfares, particularly those affecting low-earning workers from Kerala traveling to Gulf countries.
BJP member Rajiv Pratap Rudy supported the Bill, calling it a historic move that aligns India’s aviation laws with international standards, particularly in areas like aircraft leasing.
