Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

About Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

• It is the regulatory body in the field of civil aviation primarily dealing with safety issues.
• It is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• It is responsible for regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety and airworthiness standards.
• It also coordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
• Headquarters: New Delhi 
• Functions and Responsibilities of the DGCA:
• One of the main functions of the DGCA is to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members on all flights operating in India.
• The organization conducts regular safety inspections of all airlines and aircraft to meet the required safety standards.
• It also investigates any incidents or accidents that occur within the Indian airspace and takes appropriate action to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
• In addition to safety, the DGCA also plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the Indian aviation industry. The organization works closely with airlines and airport operators to promote the industry’s growth and improve the overall travel experience for passengers.
• The DGCA also plays a crucial role in developing new airports and modernizing existing facilities to ensure that they can meet the growing demands of the aviation industry.
• The DGCA is also responsible for the regulation of air traffic in India. It works closely with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to ensure air traffic is managed safely and efficiently.
• The DGCA also plays a key role in developing new air traffic control systems and technologies to improve the overall efficiency of Indian airspace.
• The DGCA is also responsible for issuing licenses and certificates to pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, and other aviation personnel.

Q1) What is the 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.

Source:'Didn't comply with provisions': Air India gets notice after 80-year-old flyer dies