Demands for clarity on number of aircraft in service

The Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) has expressed concern over India’s low ‘air safety oversight score’, which is lower than that of Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and North Korea in the Asia-Pacific region.

The report prepared by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) shows that the only countries that rank below India are Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu and Samoa.

The ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme seeks to identify if countries have consistently implemented a safety-oversight system. India is one of the 15 countries that are below the minimum target rates.

“One of the consequences of a low score is a potential downgrading by US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration. This development does not come as welcome news for Indian airlines that have been trying to expand globally,” APAI president Sudhakara Reddy observed.

APAI also demanded that there be more clarity in the expected number of aircraft India will press into service in the next five years.