Gujarat makes DGCA touchy; stalls Capt Gopinath’s project

Aviation pioneer, Capt GR Gopinath's, new and innovative venture, Simply Fly, a proposed   intra-state air service in Gujarat, hangs in the balance as the DGCA, is now dilly-dallying over issuing required permissions after providing the initial clearances.

The ambitious service, a first of its kind in the country, was due for launch in the BJP-ruled state of Gujarat on 7 May.

Now with a month having passed by, and no tangible movement on issuing required clearances, Captain Gopinath has filed an appeal with the Union civil aviation ministry against the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

According to Capt Gopinath, the DGCA's action in providing initial clearance and then raising objections once the proposal received clearance from the civil aviation ministry was arbitrary in the extreme.

''I am waiting for a decision by the civil aviation ministry which is likely to come by Tuesday. I have appealed to the ministry against the DGCA's capricious and arbitrary decision. It has gone back on its own recommendation, besides disregarding the ministry's approval,'' said Captain Gopinath.

According to Capt Gopinath, a huge sum of Rs10 crore has already been spent in getting two ATR aircraft on 'wet lease'. The aircraft have been hired through his firm, Deccan Charters.