DGCA releases regulatory reforms to reduce compliance burden for operators

Introduction

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recently released several regulatory changes to ease compliance for aviation operators in India. These reforms are especially focused on non-scheduled operators and the overall view of general aviation in order to light the regulatory burden but still preserve security.

The Current Compliance Challenges:

Before these reforms, aviation operators had to navigate complex regulations like CAR-M and CAR-145, which imposed stringent requirements on both commercial and private aircraft. These regulations were often too rigid for non-commercial operators, creating unnecessary compliance challenges, especially for smaller and light aircraft operators.

New Regulations: CAR-ML, CAR-CAO, and CAR-CAMO

In order to manage the ever evolving aviation maintenance environment, the DGCA issued three new sets of regulations in the past few years: CAR-ML, CAR-CAO, and CAR-CAMO, which specifically address light aircraft maintenance, continuing airworthiness organizations, and combined airworthiness management organizations. These standards are as per EASA guidelines developed to streamline the airworthiness and maintenance cases for subcategory smaller aircraft operators.

These new frameworks will replace the older CAR-M and CAR-145 for certain aircraft categories, streamlining the procedures for maintaining airworthiness.

Key Benefits of the Reforms:

The reforms bring several benefits, including:

• Reduced Paperwork: Simplified documentation processes.
• Tailored Requirements: Regulations now account for different aircraft sizes and types.
• Cost Efficiency: Lesser operational costs for non-commercial operators.
• Global Alignment: Adoption of global standards improves international cooperation and aviation safety.

Effective Date and Impact:

The measures will start in January 2025, and the proponents of the changes predict significant benefits for general aviation operators. By reducing administrative complexities, the DGCA aims to foster a more sustainable and efficient aviation environment while continuing to prioritize safety.

Conclusion:

These regulatory changes represent a significant step forward for India's aviation industry. They not only reduce the compliance burden on operators but also encourage growth in general aviation by creating a more operator-friendly regulatory framework.