SOURCE – THE HINDU
GS PAPER – 3
CONTEXT – The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed by Parliament. Earlier, it was passed in the Lok Sabha on March 17, 2020. The Bill was passed by a voice vote.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL
- Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 seeks to amend the Aircraft Act, 1934 which regulates manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import and export of civil aircraft, and licensing of aerodromes.
- The Bill gives statutory powers to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau
- The Bill empowers the aviation watchdog DGCA to levy penalties of upto â¹1 crore on airlines, airports and other aviation entities.
- The changes include recognizing regulatory bodies such as the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau- which were set up through various government notifications but didn’t have a defined role under the parent Act, as well as air navigation services
- The statutory status would improve India’s aviation safety ranking.
- The Bill empowers the central government to cancel the licences, certificates or approvals granted to a person under the Act if the person does not go by any provision of the Act.
- DGCA will have safety oversight and regulatory functions as mentioned in the Bill.
- BCAS will carry out regulatory activities related to civil aviation security. AAIB will look into investigative activities for aircraft accidents.
- The central government can issue directions to these bodies with respect to their activities in public interest.