US authorities upgrade India’s aviation safety rating
08 Apr 2015
US aviation authorities have upgraded India's aviation safety rating, in a move that would allow airlines in India to increase the number of flights to the United States. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also upgraded India's aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to Category -1.
US transportation secretary Anthony Foxx acknowledged today that India has taken corrective action to address the FAA's concerns, after the regulator downgraded India's rating to category 2 from category 1 in January last year, citing a lack of safety oversight.
Foxx conveyed the US decision at a meeting with India's civil aviation minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju.
He is leading a high level US delegation for a meeting with the civil aviation minister and key officers of the ministry.
This meeting follows a series of meetings held by US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the meeting, a presentation was made on the growth of civil aviation sector in India so as to identify areas in which partnership, technical cooperation and `Make in India' can be pushed forward.
The two countries also discussed opportunities of collaboration in development of infrastructure, air safety, aviation security, skill development and MROs as also the setting up of a National Aviation University and manufacture of aircrafts.
It was decided that a joint working group will be set up to develop a productive relationship between the two countries.
The US delegation included assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs Susan Kurland and director of US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Leocadia Zak.
