Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between India and USA

The steps involved in BASA process include:

* Skill upgradation of Indian DGCA certification experts by providing advanced training in certification procedures and oversight of design and production activities.
* Assessment of Indian authorities and industry capabilities to undertake certification and production work on a sustained basis to meet the FAA Standards.
* FAA conducting a Shadow Certification exercise with DGCA officials on a sample product, and satisfying themselves that Indian standard certification procedure are acceptable for high class aeronautical products.

The BASA process with a limited scope is expected to be completed by end of year 2010.

US-India Aviation Cooperation Programme (ACP)

The US-India Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP), a public-private partnership between the U.S. Trade Development Agency (USTDA), the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. aviation companies, has been established to provide a forum for unified communication between the Government of India and U.S. public and private sector entities in India. The ACP is designed to work directly with the Indian Government to identify and support India’s civil aviation sector modernization priorities.

The ACP’s specific objectives are to: (i) promote enhanced safety, operational efficiency and system capacity in the Indian aviation sector; (ii) facilitate and coordinate aviation industry training and technical ties between the U.S. and India; and (iii) strengthen overall US-India aviation cooperation. Funding for training and technical assistance programs is provided by USTDA and the in-kind support will be provided by FAA and US aviation companies.

Through the mechanism of ACP, Indian and US officials has identified specific areas for technical co-operation, which include:

· Air traffic flow management

· Certification of aeronautical products

· Certification of Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS)

· Development of human resources.

· Assistance in the area of helicopter operations.

The training programme are targeted for DGCA personnel and industry in India. This programmes would be a joint effort between several ACP member companies including Boeing, Prat & Whitney, GE and Honeywell.

The ACP project on human resources development is designed by HEICO Parts Group Inc., with the objective to develop a comprehensive and specialized US Aviation standards Technical training program and will be conducted by HEICO for DGCA and Indian aviation industry personnel.

The cost of the programme funded by USTDA is US$371,700/-. The agreement between DGCA and HEICO Parts Group will be signed in New Delhi in a few days, which will pave way for the specialized training on aviation standards.

(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 31-Aug-09