India Retained the International Standards for Aviation Safety Category 1 Of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Based on the positive outcomes of the inspections, assessment and follow-ups, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of USA , has informed DGCA that India meets the international standards for aviation safety oversight of the Chicago Convention.

• India’s International Aviation Safety Assessment Category will continue to be published as Category 1: FAA of USA

• India meets the international standards for aviation safety oversight, says the FAA

• The FAA in its assessment has found that India meets requirements under IASA safety oversight of the Chicago Convention & its Annexes

• The FAA has appreciated DGCA for ensuring the effective safety oversight of India’s aviation system

• Air carriers of Category 1 countries are permitted to operate/ expand their services to destinations in the USA and codeshare with US air carriers

On a technical note, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States of America has communicated to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on 12th April 2023 ,  that India’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) category will continue to be published as Category 1.

While countries like Mexico's is yet to regain the Category 1 of aviation safety rating from the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), it is a good development that the South Asian country was able to satisfy the American Auditors with its standard of Aviation safety.

FAA, under its IASA program, conducted an audit of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India from 25th to 29th October 2021 in the areas covering aircraft operations, airworthiness, and personnel licensing.

The IASA assessment was followed by final consultations on 25th - 26th April 2022 and further review by the FAA in July 2022 and September 2022.  Based on the positive outcomes of the assessment and follow-ups, the FAA informed DGCA on 12th April 2023 that India meets the international standards for aviation safety oversight of the Chicago Convention & its Annexes and continues to retain FAA IASA Category 1 status which was the last assessed in July 2018.

The FAA has also appreciated the DGCA stating that DGCA has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring the effective safety oversight of India’s aviation system.

India's Category 1 determination has come at a time when the Indian aviation is on a high growth trajectory and air carriers in India have major capacity induction and expansion plans. Air carriers of Category 1 countries are permitted to operate/ expand their services to destinations in the USA and codeshare with US air carriers.

India in the recent ICAO audit in November 2022 has scored an Effective Implementation (EI) of 85.65% from the previous EI of 69.95% thereby enhancing its global ranking significantly. The assessment by ICAO as well as FAA is a testimony to India's commitment to having an effective safety oversight for its civil aviation system.

The International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program 

• Under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, the FAA determines whether another country’s oversight of its air carriers that operate, or seek to operate, into the U.S., or codeshare with a U.S. air carrier, complies with safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

• The IASA program is administered by the FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety (AVS), Flight Standards Service (AFS), International Programs and Policy Division (AFS-50).

• The IASA program focuses on a country's ability, not the ability of individual air carriers , to adhere to international aviation safety standards and recommended practices contained in ICAO Document 7300.

• IASA assessments determine compliance with these international standards by focusing on each critical element (CE) of an effective aviation safety oversight authority specified in ICAO Document 9734, Safety Oversight Manual.

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