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EU-India aviation project ratified

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, Oct 29

The largest economic cooperation project between India and the EU, the Rs 130-crore EU-India civil aviation cooperation project is now all set to take off after ratification of the implementation phase by the second steering committee meeting of the proj ect held recently in Brussels.

The project covers areas of air-worthiness and safety, airline management, air traffic management, product support, customer support, pilot inspector training and airport activities.

The implementation phase will run for three years to end 2004. Around 200 activities will be performed during the period, mainly in the form of training modules, workshops and seminars and site visits of European and Indian facilities covering airframes, engines and equipment, as well airports and satellite communications. A week long aeronautical trade event will also be organised in Bangalore in November next year.

The inception stage of the project was started earlier this year with the launch steering committee meeting being held on March 28. Thereafter, the EU and Indian partners discussed and finalised the detailed content and curricula to be covered in the imp lementation phase in the seven main areas of cooperation.

During the inception phase major European facilities relating air traffic management and customer support were visited and an activity related to production management will be undertaken in India during January next year.

The signatories to the project from the Indian side include the Ministry of Civil Aviation, representing also the participation of the Director General of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Soc iety of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries.

The European Commission and European Association of Aerospace Industries (AECMA) are signatories to the project from the European side.