Low-cost aviation pioneer GR Gopinath’s dream of providing intra-state connectivity in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal may remain just that — a dream.
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has turned down his proposal to begin charter services in these states, citing many loopholes in his application for importing two 72-seater ATR aircraft on wet lease.
Under wet lease, an airline hires not just an aircraft but pilots and crew.
Unless the Ministry of civil aviation overrules DGCA and grants permission to Gopinath, Deccan Charters’ plans will not takeoff.
Gopinath said DGCA had earlier given him approval to import aircraft on wet lease, but stopped the import mid-way in Dubai some time back, despite an assurance that the wet lease would be converted to dry lease (so that Indian pilots and crew can be used) within 3-6 months.
But DGCA officials said no permission was given to Gopinath to import aircraft, only a no-objection certificate was granted and that wet lease is anyway allowed only under very specific circumstances.
“A non-scheduled operator permit (NSOP) holder bringing an aircraft from overseas has happened only once in the last 15 years. This could lead to undesirable consequences such as foreign aircraft owners resorting to this device and freely operating within the country without mandatory security checks in foreign crew. There are more than 130 NSOPs and the short-staffed DGCA cannot check each and every instance.”
The regulator noted that Gopinath produced security clearance certificates for foreign pilots and engineers for charter operations which were more than one year old.
“The clearance was issued for Deccan Cargo and Express Logistics, a scheduled operator permit (SOP). How can this clearance be valid for NSOP operations under a different head,” officials said.
But all is not lost and Gopinath could still apply afresh. He could seek permission for a scheduled operator permit (SOP) or that of a regional airline (in both cases the airline will have to file daily schedules and be guided by rules which all other Indian airlines follow).
In its present form, the proposal seeks to connect remote cities within these three states with the state capitals through a charter service.
Gopinath said he has already signed MoUs with Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal and the DGCA’s reluctance to grant clearance means funds for the project are blocked.
To a question on how these charter operations would cater to individual passengers wanting to travel within the three states, Gopinath said, “There are standard rules and procedures wherein charter operators can sell tickets to individuals through agents”. Gopinath’s plans envisaged connecting cities such as Surat, Kandla and Bhuj in Gujarat with Ahmedabad; Cooch Behar and Rourkela with Kolkata; Gwalior and Indore with Bhopal.
Comments