Stoppage of Landing Permit Effects Tourism

The Home Ministry of India (MHA) has issued stoppage to the Temporary Landing Permits (TLP) to private jets registered in foreign countries as for security reasons, and this move has not gone down well with jet operators. The ministry has also asked the crew members of such jets to get an employment visa.

The jet operators are not happy with this move as they are claiming that the move will severely affect business and tourismJUST CLICK AWAY…http://www.keralatourismpackages.co.in// from abroad. They are also pointing that it is against the Chicago Convention of International Civil Aviation Organization to which India is a participant.

According to the statistics, around 24,000 flight schedule of non-scheduled aviation is observed in India per month. To this, Kuldeep Singh Dhatwalia, additional DG, MHA, did not comment.

Rohit Kapur, president of Business Aircraft Operators Association, stated: “From this development, MHA seems to be confused”.

Before, the foreign registered non-scheduled aircraft was allotted the TLP for up to 72 hrs. If the aircraft needs to fly within the country for a month, then a special permission was to be taken from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA). The Kapur also added to his statement,” The MHA has asked the crew to get employment certificates. But the crew is here on a visit for a few days and not on any employment assignment”.

Above all, it takes about 5-8 weeks to get a visa processed, which is very long time taken. Secondly the employment visa for the crew has to be acquired within 15 days in advance, though the DGCA clearance is received just 3-4 days before the arrival of flight. To which Kapur commented to be absurd. The private jets are claiming that MHA should provide them visa for at least 3-5 yrs.

Rajen Mehra, who is the former head of Qatar Airways and currently MD, India for Universal Aviation, says that on one hand, finance minister P Chidambaram is seeking FDI from across the world and on the other the government is bringing regulations which are shifting investments away from the country.

This type of investment will take investment away from the country to countries like China and Korea.