The Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 is a landmark legislation in Indian aviation

Sanjeev Kapoor - Former Director General, Inspection and Safety, Indian Air Force

Introduction

On December 5, 2024, the Indian Parliament enacted the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024, replacing the nearly nine-decade-old Aircraft Act of 1934. This monumental legislation heralds a new era in Indian civil aviation, bringing sweeping changes to align the industry with modern global standards and domestic aspirations. By addressing technological advancements, consumer rights and infrastructure development, the Act demonstrates India’s ambition to establish itself as a global leader in aviation.

As air traffic and infrastructure requires growth, this reform is both timely and transformative. More importantly, the Act builds a legal foundation for contribution by military professionals to the civil aviation sector, paving the way for much needed synergy between the civil and defence sectors.

Motivation behind the reform

The Aircraft Act of 1934, crafted during the colonial era, catered to a nascent aviation sector with limited scope and vision. While amendments were made over the decades, the Act became increasingly inadequate in addressing the needs of a fast-evolving aviation landscape. The rise of drones, flying taxis, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and surging air traffic made a comprehensive overhaul essential.

The Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 is not just a replacement but a recalibration of India’s aviation framework to meet current and future demands. It bridges gaps in the old legislation by introducing broader definitions, innovative provisions and enhanced regulatory mechanisms.

Key features

The Act’s key features are:

● Broader scope and definitions: The 1934 Act narrowly defined “aircraft”, excluding emerging technologies like drones, flying taxis and UAVs. The 2024 Act embraces these advancements, ensuring comprehensive regulation and fostering innovation. By doing so, it supports the logistics, urban mobility and disaster management sectors, making India a trailblazer in the integration of cutting-edge aviation technologies.

● Formalisation of regulatory bodies: The new legislation provides a structured framework for specialised aviation bodies. While the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was established under the old Act, the new law formally recognises the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB). This ensures better coordination, safety compliance and accident investigation protocols.

● Economic regulation and consumer welfare: For the first time, the Act introduces mechanisms to regulate airfares and address consumer grievances transparently. An online grievance redressal system enhances passenger rights, ensuring that consumers are at the heart of aviation policy. This shift aligns with the global trend of prioritising passenger satisfaction.

● Focus on manufacturing and MRO services: The 1934 Act overlooked the potential of domestic manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services. The 2024 Act aligns with the “Make in India” initiative, encouraging domestic manufacturing and fostering self-reliance in aviation technology. It also promotes the development of robust MRO infrastructure to enhance the sector’s long-term sustainability.

● Alignment with international standards: By incorporating recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Act ensures India's compliance with global aviation safety, security and operational best practices. This alignment boosts India’s credibility in the international aviation community.

● Air navigation and services: The Act emphasises seamless regulation of air navigation services, aeronautical information and search-and-rescue operations. By addressing these critical areas, it lays a strong foundation for future infrastructure development.

● Consumer-centric policies: The Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 stands out for its consumer-first approach. By emphasizing fare transparency and grievance redressal, it seeks to enhance flying experience for passengers. These measures are vital as India undergoes an unprecedented rise in domestic and international travelers.

● Bridging the military-civil aviation gap: One of the less discussed but significant areas of reform is the integration of military expertise into civil aviation. Military professionals, pilots, technicians, and air traffic controllers possess a wealth of experience that can greatly benefit civil aviation. The Act indirectly opens avenues for leveraging this expertise, though further policy focus in this area is needed.

● Contribution of military professionals: The Act enables military personnel to transition to civil roles such as pilots, safety officers and maintenance supervisors. Their training, discipline and technical acumen make them invaluable assets to the civil aviation sector. Military technicians also bring unmatched skills in aircraft maintenance and repair, especially for high-performance aircraft.  Military veterans will be able to frequently serve as trainers in aviation academies, instilling a culture of safety and operational excellence. They will be able to contribute to aviation policies and regulatory frameworks by offering strategic insights and operational experience, ensuring that regulations are both practical and effective.

Supporting innovation and emerging technologies

India’s aviation industry is on the cusp of a technological revolution. The Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 fosters innovation by recognising and regulating UAVs, drones and flying taxis. These technologies have transformative potential in logistics, healthcare (medical deliveries), disaster management and urban mobility. By integrating these advancements into the mainstream aviation ecosystem, India can redefine air transport.

Building a sustainable infrastructure

Infrastructural development is at the core of the new Act as it emphasises enhanced air navigation systems, meteorological support for improved flight safety and search and rescue (SAR) operations to effectively address emergencies. By focusing on these areas, the Act provides a roadmap for sustainable growth in the aviation sector, ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with rising demand.

A visionary step towards global leadership

The Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 is not merely an update to existing legislation; it is a bold step towards positioning India as a global aviation hub. By replacing the outdated Aircraft Act of 1934, the new law addresses long standing challenges while embracing opportunities for growth and innovation.

Transformative Impact

The Act will have the following transformative impact:

● Passenger-centric growth: Transparent fare regulation and consumer rights protection enhance the flying experience.

● Technological integration: Embracing drones and UAVs places India at the forefront of aviation technology.

● Domestic manufacturing: Support for the “Make in India” initiative boosts self-reliance in aviation technology.

● Global compliance:Adherence to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations strengthens India’s international aviation standing.

A call for further action

As the aviation sector evolves, continuous upgradation of the enabling legislation framework will be essential. A dynamic, forward-looking approach will ensure that India remains a leader in innovation, safety and passenger welfare.

While the Act addresses a broad spectrum of challenges, the role of military professionals in civil aviation remains underutilised. A formal framework to channel their expertise into areas like MRO, training and strategic planning could unlock immense potential. This is one area India’s policymakers must consider in the civil aviation sector. It will be a positive step in promoting military-civil aviation fusion as well as in improving expertise in the civil sector while also providing opportunities to air veterans to utilise their enormous and hard won knowledge and skill-set.

Conclusion

By all accounts, the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 marks a new chapter in India’s aviation history. By modernising an archaic legal framework, the Act propels India into a future of innovation, safety and global leadership. As the aviation sector continues to grow, the Act’s visionary provisions will play a pivotal role in transforming India into a global aviation powerhouse.

In embracing change, fostering innovation and prioritising consumer interests, the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 truly soars above its precursor, symbolising India’s ascent to global aviation excellence.

(Exclusive to NatStrat)