• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced new features on its e-governance platform — eGCA — for stakeholders, including the facility to fetch pilots’ flying hours on a real-time basis that will also help in faster processing of licence applications.

• The DGCA issued/renewed 17,220 flight crew licences through the single window digital platform of eGCA and the number of CPLs (Commercial Pilot Licences) issued during the year has been the highest in the last decade at 1,131.

• Besides, the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) database has been integrated with the civil aviation ministry’s heli-sewa portal that will allow speedier processing of landing requests.

• Operators are now issued the certificate of airworthiness with respect to newly inducted aircraft at foreign delivery locations through the regulator’s eGCA portal for ferrying the planes to India.

• A new process for auto-filling of pilots’ e-logbook by way of integration of Aircraft System data (ACARS/AIMS/ARMS) of scheduled airline operators with eGCA has been initiated in 2022.

• Making entries of flying records/details in the logbooks is a very important aspect of the pilots’ functioning. Timely capture of these details in the pilots logbooks enhances their efficiency and safety of operations by providing them more time for their skill enhancement.

• The pilot e-logbook in eGCA has been integrated with various operators’ internal software through API (Application Programming Interface) whereby pilots’ flying records can be directly transferred into their e-logbooks on the eGCA portal. The move will eliminate manual interventions.

• Apart from fetching pilots’ flying hours on a real-time basis with accuracy, the facility will help in timely submission of applications by the pilots for the issuance, renewal and endorsement of licences by removal of multi-layer data-validation steps.

e-Governance of Civil Aviation (eGCA)

• The e-Governance of Civil Aviation (eGCA), a single window e-governance platform, has been enhanced to further improve the ease of doing business in the civil aviation ecosystem.

• The eGCA project has been implemented for automation of the processes and functions of DGCA. 

• The project envisages an end-to-end solution including various software applications, connectivity with all the regional offices, a portal for dissemination of information and for providing online and speedy service delivery to its stakeholders in a secure environment.

• The eGCA provides a strong base for IT infrastructure, service delivery framework and would enhance the efficiency, ensure transparency and accountability of all DGCA functions.

• This single window platform aims to bring in monumental change by eliminating operational inefficiencies, minimising personal interaction, improving regulatory reporting and increasing productivity.

• It is a portal for dissemination of information and for providing online and speedy service delivery in a secure environment.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the regulatory body in the field of civil aviation primarily dealing with safety issues. 

• 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 coordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

• The headquarters are located in New Delhi with regional offices in various parts of India.

• To keep the statutory provisions abreast with the international standards and the latest developments in the sphere of civil aviation, Aircraft (Amendment) Act, 2020 has been enacted and provisions relating to imposition of financial penalties and compounding of offences have been inserted in the Aircraft Rules, 1937. 

• New rules namely the Drone Rules, 2021 have been promulgated to regulate the drone sector.

Functions of DGCA: 

• Regulation of air transport services to/from/within India in accordance with the provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, including bilateral and multilateral agreements with foreign countries and the policy pronouncements of the government.

• Registration of civil aircraft.

• Laying down airworthiness requirements for civil aircraft registered in India and grant of Certificate of Airworthiness to such aircraft.

• Licensing of pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and monitoring of flight crew standards.

• Licensing of aerodromes and air carriers.

• Rendering advice to the government on matters pertaining to civil aviation.

• Processing amendments to Aircraft Act, 1934 and the Aircraft Rules 1937, and other Acts and rules thereunder relating to aviation, for their implementation in India, the provisions of the Chicago Convention and Annexes thereto, and other International Conventions relating to aviation.

• Coordination of the work relating to the International Civil Aviation Organisation and replies to State Letters after consulting stakeholders, wherever necessary including consultation with other agencies.

• Investigation of air accidents and incidents and rendering technical assistance to the Courts/ Committees of Inquiry.

• Regulation and supervision of training activities of flying/gliding clubs.

• Type certification of aircraft.

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