Sitaram Yechury committee report: Revisit Aircraft Act 1934 and bring out comprehensive bill

February 15, 2014

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has rejected the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Bill in the present form. The committee stated that the proposal for setting up a new aviation regulator lacks teeth in empowering the authority.

The panel, headed by Sitaram Yechury suggested the Civil Aviation Ministry to come out with a comprehensive Bill after revisiting the Aircraft Act, 1934 because it felt that the Act is too old to tackle the emerging problems in the aviation sector.

Excerpts of the Sitaram Yechury committee report on Transport, Tourism and Culture

The Chairperson of Civil Aviation Authority of India should be part-time only as there exists possibility of deadlock between a full time Chairperson and the Director General would be imminent.
Increase the number of experts in the selection committee for the appointment of Chairperson, DG and full-time members of the Authority.
Found fault with the qualifications needed to become the chairman of the CAA in the Bill, saying it would seem that only a former civil aviation secretary would fulfill the requirements to head the CAA.
Allow professionals and heads of public sector undertakings viz. Airports Authority of India, who have the relevant experience and knowledge but were lower in rank than secretary, to head CAA.
CAA members’ term of office should be reduced to three years from the proposed five years as it would block those persons having latest training and knowledge from becoming members, particularly when the sector was growing and changing fast.

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