Enthused by the monthly growth of 20 per cent in the civil aviation sector since January this year, industry leaders on Saturday decided to embark on a unified macro strategy for making India a global civil aviation hub.
Aircraft manufacturers and senior representatives of airports, helicopter services, engine manufacturers, cargo industry, avionics and caterers, under the banner of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), held a meeting with the objective of enhancing a safe and orderly growth of the aviation sector and addressing the key concerns of the industry.
Briefing the media, FICCI Civil Aviation Committee Chairman and Boeing India President Dinesh A. Keskar said the industry body had decided to lead a strong contingent of aviation industry leaders, along with the government, to the week-long Farnborough international air show in London from July 19.
The meeting also discussed a host of issues relating to the sector ranging from taxation to infrastructure and import duties which would be later raised with the government.
Besides sales tax on aviation turbine fuel, the newly-created committee could also raise issues concerning import duties on aircraft for private use and those on spare parts and other aviation items meant for MRO (maintenance, repairs and overhaul) organisations.
The FICCI panel, which has representatives from public and private sector aviation bodies and top former officials, also discussed aviation safety issues and how to further strengthen the various safety mechanisms collectively. Problems of helicopters and general aviation were also raised at the meeting. The issues ranged from development of heliports or roof-top helipads and heli-corridors to duties on import of aircraft for general aviation or private use, Mr. Keskar, who was accompanied by Pawan Hans Helicopters chief R. K. Tyagi and former chief of DGCA Kanu Gohain, said.
