New Delhi, Dec 3 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, introduced by Union Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, aims to streamline various operations in the civil aviation industry with legal authority.

Presenting the bill for discussion and approval, the Minister noted that the legislation was prompted by a recommendation from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to revise the main act.

This bill, which seeks to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act, was previously passed in the Lok Sabha during the last session of Parliament in August.

Naidu highlighted that the bill consolidates 21 amendments made to the Aircraft Act over the past nine decades and clearly defines the authorities of various bodies, including the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The minister elaborated that the government is revising the rules with the support of the principal Act.

He mentioned that throughout the last 90 years, the Aircraft Act has undergone 21 amendments. While 19 sections were modified, two sections were eliminated. “Amendments were introduced in a fragmented manner, leading to significant redundancy and inconsistencies within the Act. ICAO recommended a comprehensive review of the principal legislation to eliminate these issues,” he stated.

Emphasizing the government’s commitment to making India the leading domestic civil aviation market globally, Naidu expressed that the aviation sector holds immense potential to boost the nation’s economy.

Naidu mentioned that the Ministry is focusing on the MRO sector, aircraft manufacturing, and equipping individuals within the country to meet various industry demands.

He presented data to illustrate the sector's growth over the past decade. The number of airports has surged from 74 in 2014 to 157 currently, while the number of aircraft has increased from 400 in 2014 to 813.

Additionally, domestic passenger traffic has also risen from 67 million in 2014 to 153 million.

“This growth is merely the beginning. We believe it has the potential to invigorate the entire economy of the country,” he remarked.

The Minister indicated that while the previous Act focused solely on aircraft maintenance, the new legislation will encompass design and manufacturing as well.

“The former Act only referenced maintenance without any definitions. Now, we are incorporating design and manufacturing into the framework. We are also providing definitions for all three terms,” he added.

The Minister also introduced an appeal system in the bill, underscoring the principle of natural justice. Individuals impacted by administrative, financial, or economic decisions made by the government will have access to this appeal system.