The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may have upgraded the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA), but it remains concerned at the "lack of continuity at top" at the regulator.
The FAA has been uncomfortable with the fact that the DGCA has had six director-generals (DG) since 2008. What has added to their concern is that the current DG, who took over this January, is going to be empanelled as secretary shortly and then may be moved out — paving the way for the seventh DG in seven years.
The FAA team clearly expressed their discomfort with this state of affairs. While the DGCA's aviation safety oversight has been upgraded, senior officials here concede that retaining the top slot will require a lot of effort including managing to find a full-time head who can spend some time as DG.
In 2008, Kanu Gohain demitted office as the last DG who rose from within the ranks. After him, IAS officers have held this post for brief periods except chief election commissioner-designate Nasim Zaidi who spent almost two years here.
There is a wooden board with the names of all DGs in the director-general's office. The FAA team saw that and commented at the lack of continuity. Prashant Sukul, who was DG for a few days in July 2012, also has name on that board.
A senior government official said: "It is true that there have been a large number of DGs in recent past. But the current DG's empanelment as secretary does not necessarily mean that she will be moved out soon. Chief election commissioner-designate Nasim Zaidi remained DG for some months after being empanelled as secretary in 2010," said an official. DGCA officials want the government to look for the current DG's successor from among them.
Even DGCA insiders admit that UPA-I and II did not treat the regulator's office seriously till the US threatened to downgrade it — which the FAA eventually did last January. "The NDA will have to show that it means business. They should either say that the current DG will remain here for a fix term of a few years or find someone who can provide continuity at the top along with stability," said an officer.
- TOI
