Draft aviation policy offers concessions to domestic sector

KARACHI: A draft for the New Aviation Policy 2019 has been prepared to revive the aviation sector proposing number of concessions to the domestic sector including incentives for airlines operators, aircraft manufacturing industry and promoting tourism. It also recommends rationalization of passengers’ related charges and aeronautical charges of the Civil Aviation Authority.

This main vision of the draft policy, NAP-2019, is to regulate and facilitate the stakeholders to revive the aviation sector. The draft would come up for final discussions on March 4, 2019 at the CAA headquarters and would be presented to the federal cabinet for approval upon finalization.

The new policy, would offer number of direct and indirect benefits and incentives for the airlines operators, pilots, cabin crew and most importantly the passengers. The PCAA (Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority) has also recommended the rationalization of all passengers’ related PCAA charges and aeronautical charges on the domestic operations. Additionally, the PCAA charges for provision of land and spaces have also been rationalized substantially. The validity period of licences to airlines and general aviation operators is being increased from one year to two years. Similarly, the validity of personnel licence and cabin crew certificate is also being enhanced upto five years within a rationalized fee. The policy for aircraft manufacturing industry and maintenance repair organizations would provide incentives to their promote development. Facilitating the aeronautical charges with the international flights is also under process and shall be announced upon clearance by the competent forum.

A separate category of licence, the Tourism Promotion and Regional Integration (TPRI) licence is being introduced on incentivized business friendly terms to promote tourism and facilitate connectivity of socio-economic destinations.

The prime minister’s programme regarding Green and Clean movement has also been given special emphasis by addressing all the five components through CSR programme at all the PCAA airports. The plantation for billion trees Tsunami has also been initiated. The TPL, SPL, PPL, CPL, ATPL syllabi related to aviation are being reviewed to make it more objective and flying oriented. The ground schooling and flying club curricula are also being addressed to produce professional pilots.