Essay On Civil Aviation

INTRODUCTION
Civil aviation sector in India has evolved over time. On February 18, 1911 India's first commercial airplane flew between Allahabad and Naini. In 1912, India's first commercial international flight operated by the former Imperial Airways took place which connected Delhi to Karachi and beyond. In 1932, J.R.D. Tata flew an air mail service airplane, after which Tata Airlines plunged into scheduled air transport services. After World War II, in 1946, Tata Airlines became a public limited company and was renamed as Air India. Subsequently, in the year 1948, Government of India acquired 49% of the company and permitted the airline to operate international services under the name Air India International.
After India's independence, in 1948, nine air transport companies carrying both air cargo and passengers operated in the country. To deal with the dwindling financial health of Indian civil aviation sector, the Government of India passed the Air Corporations Act, 1953, which nationalized all carriers providing services within India's civil aviation industry. The Act brought forth two nationalized Air Corporation, viz. Indian airlines Corporation (clubbing the existing eight airlines for operation of internal air services in the country and adjacent countries like Burma, Ceylon and Pakistan) and Air India International (for operation of long distance International services).
Until the late 1980s, the civil aviation sector remained monopolized by Government owned airlines. But in 1986, Government paved way for private players in the aviation sector and airlines like Air Sahara, Jet Airways, Damania Airways, East West Airlines, Modiluft and NEPC Airways entered the Indian market. In April 1990, the Government adopted Indi...

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...lation of air transport services to/from/within/over India by Indian and Foreign airlines, registration of civil aircraft, formulation of air safety and airworthiness standards for civil aircraft registered in India and grant of certificates of airworthiness to such aircraft. It oversees the licensing of pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, flight engineers and air traffic controllers. It also coordinates all regulatory functions with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
But latest developments have shown that DGCA would be replaced by another authority by the name Civil Aviation Authority established under the Civil Aviation Authority of India Bill, 2013. The bill has been tabled in the Parliament for its approval. But rumours suggest that this authority will perform no better functions than the extant DGCA due to lack of more powers and authority.