Facts for Prelims (FFP)C
Source: LM
Context: The Civil Aviation Ministry has issued the Draft Aircraft Bill, 2023 to replace the existing Aircraft Act, 1934.
Aim: The draft bill aims to provide a simplified approach to regulations (including design, manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import, and export) in order to meet the current needs of the civil aviation sector and remove redundancies present in the 1934 law. It also seeks to bring India in line with the Chicago Convention.
Major provisions:
- Creation of two statutory bodies, namely the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. These bodies would be responsible for implementing the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) prescribed under the Chicago Convention and would discharge regulatory and oversight functions.
- Sufficient powers for the statutory regulatory bodies, such as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
About Chicago Convention
Also known as the Convention on International Civil Aviation, it is an international treaty established in 1944. It sets out the core principles for international air transport and created the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to oversee its implementation. The convention recognizes nine freedoms of air, with the first five being officially recognized by the ICAO. These freedoms grant countries the right to fly over, land in, and transport passengers and cargo between territories.
India is its member
