What is the Airports Authority of India (AAI)?

About Airports Authority of India (AAI)

• It is a statutory body under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
• It was constituted by an Act of Parliament and came into being on 1st April, 1995, by merging the erstwhile National Airports Authority and the International Airports Authority of India.
• The merger brought into existence a single Organization entrusted with the responsibility of creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civil aviation infrastructure both on the ground and air space in the country.
• AAI manages 137 airports, which include 24 International Airports (including 3 International Civil Enclaves), 10 Customs Airports (including 4 Customs Civil Enclaves), 80 Domestic Airports, and 23 Domestic Civil Enclaves at Defence airfields.
• AAI also provides Air Traffic Management Services (ATMS) over the entire Indian Air Space and adjoining oceanic areas, with ground installations at all airports, and 25 other locations to ensure the safety of aircraft operations.
• The functions of AAI are as follows:
  • Design, development, operation and maintenance of international and domestic airports and civil enclaves.
  • Control and management of the Indian airspace extending beyond the territorial limits of the country, as accepted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
  • Construction, modification and management of passenger terminals.
  • Development and Management of cargo terminals at international and domestic airports.
  • Provision of passenger facilities and an information system at the passenger terminals at airports.
  • Expansion and strengthening of the operation area, viz. Runways, Aprons, Taxiway etc.
  • Provision of visual aids.
  • Provision of communication and navigation aids, viz. ILS, DVOR, DME, Radar etc.

Q1) What is the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)?

ICAO is an intergovernmental specialized agency associated with the United Nations (UN). It was established in 1947 by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944) known as Chicago Convention.CAO is dedicated to developing safe and efficient international air transport for peaceful purposes and ensuring a reasonable opportunity for every state to operate international airlines. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security and facilitation, efficiency, and economic development of air transport as well as to improve the environmental performance of aviation. It also serves as a clearinghouse for cooperation and discussion on civil aviation issues among its 193 member states.

Source: Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Airports Authority's Curative Petition Against Judgment Upholding GMR's Rights Over Nagpur Airport