India aviation sector set for take off, says FAA's Marion Blakey

New Delhi: Federal Aviation Administrator (FAA) Marion C Blakey has expressed optimism about the Indian carrier and aviation business, observing that it was very focused, and due to hit a period of high growth after an initial period of heavy losses. Blakey is in New Delhi to attend the three-day US-India Aviation Partnership Summit, which concludes today.

"I hope India is able to move forward towards a more corporate-style of aviation. That has to develop significantly. I am very optimistic about the future of Indian carriers and the Indian aviation business," she said.

Lauding what she called "one of the fastest growing (aviation) systems in the world," Blakey, however cautioned that while growth and opportunities are welcome, "it comes with attendant challenges."

She said that though the Indian aviation industry was passing through a period of heavy losses, just like the US aviation industry, a growth period would naturally follow.

Blakey said that the FAA's mandate was on safety, and it was in this regard, that she had come along to New Delhi to assess the potential for a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA). Blakey also said other areas of bilateral cooperation could also be considered, such as airport maintenance and security, performance-based navigation, satellite-based navigation, geo-augmented navigation etc.