Question : AIR SAFETY

(a) whether the Union Government has called for global partnership to make air travel fully secure and safe;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether a conference on civil aviation safety and security was held at New Delhi in the month of October 2003;

(d) if so, the details of discussions held in the conference and outcome thereof;

(e) the details of other steps the Government proposes to take to provide fool proof safety in flights; and

(f) the amount required for implementing the new security measures?

MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY )

(a) & (b): India is an active member of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the apex UN body in the field of civil aviation, which, inter-alia, sets standards and regulations necessary for the safety and security of international air transport.

(c) & (d): Under the framework of Indo-European Union (EU) Civil Aviation Cooperation Project, an international Conference on `Civil Aviation Safety and Security` was held in Delhi on 15-16 October, 2003. This conference provided a forum to address the security and safety related issues in an interactive manner.

(e): Various steps like compliance with the safety requirements specified by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), 100% Monitoring of Flight Data Recorders, regular Safety Audit of the Operators, installation of Minimum Safe Altitude Warning Systems (MSAW), Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radars (MSSR), Airborne Collision Avoidance Systems (ACAS), Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS) etc. have been taken to ensure safety of air transport.

(f): Based on requirement, funds are allocated as expenditure on security schemes is an on-going process.