The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish an autonomous, statutory Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), saying India's aviation regulatory framework must evolve to keep pace with the industry's rapid expansion.
In a detailed proposal submitted on August 6, FIP President Capt CS Randhawa called for a new independent aviation regulator with greater operational and financial autonomy than the current system led by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
According to the proposal, India has emerged as the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, but continues to rely on a regulatory structure that functions as an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The pilots' body said the scale and complexity of India's aviation sector have increased significantly in recent years.
The proposal highlighted several indicators of industry growth:
Commercial aircraft fleet exceeding 850 aircraft
Passenger traffic surpassing 239 million
Expansion of emerging segments including drones and advanced air mobility
Growing regulatory demands across safety, licensing and operational oversight
According to the FIP, these developments have increased pressure on a traditional government department model.
The proposal stated that major regulatory decisions and financial approvals often require multiple layers of government clearance, creating administrative delays. It also pointed to challenges in attracting and retaining specialised aviation professionals because of government pay structures.
The pilots' body identified roles such as airline captains, flight operations inspectors and airworthiness engineers as areas where specialised expertise is increasingly important.
A central element of the proposal is the creation of an autonomous authority with independent funding mechanisms.
The FIP noted that unlike several international aviation regulators, revenue generated by the DGCA flows into the Consolidated Fund of India, making the regulator dependent on annual government budget allocations.
According to the proposal, a future Civil Aviation Authority could be supported through:
User fees
Licensing charges
Cost-recovery safety audits
Other regulatory service revenues
The organisation said such a model could reduce reliance on government grants while enabling sustained investment in regulatory capacity and technology.
The pilots' federation also cited aviation regulatory structures in neighbouring countries and other global markets.
According to the proposal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka operate autonomous statutory civil aviation authorities. The document also referenced aviation regulators in countries such as the United Kingdom and Singapore, which function through self-sustaining institutional models.
The FIP said India's framework should align more closely with international regulatory practices as the sector continues to expand.
The proposal revives several elements that were previously included in the Civil Aviation Authority Bill, 2013, which did not become law.
The proposed authority would have a professional leadership structure and wider operational flexibility.
Key recommendations include:
Establishment of a dedicated Civil Aviation Authority Fund
Authority to recruit industry specialists directly using market-linked remuneration
A professional board comprising a Chairperson, Director General and domain experts
Representation across flight safety, airworthiness, air navigation, consumer affairs and environmental compliance
Fixed-term appointments for leadership positions
Dedicated systems for passenger grievance handling and noise regulation
The proposal stated that these measures could strengthen institutional capability while improving regulatory responsiveness.
The FIP said an autonomous regulator could support stronger compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) standards.
According to the proposal, greater institutional independence and continued digital investment could help accelerate pilot licensing processes, improve fatigue risk management under Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) frameworks and enhance confidence in India's aviation oversight system.
Copies of the proposal were also sent to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Civil Aviation Secretary SK Sinha, Cabinet Secretary Dr TV Somanathan, and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
As India's aviation sector enters a new phase of expansion, the proposal places regulatory capacity and governance reform at the centre of the industry's long-term growth agenda. Whether the recommendation gains policy traction could shape the future structure of aviation oversight in one of the world's fastest-growing air travel markets.
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