Govt examining proposal for aeronautical search and rescue board

New Delhi: The government is examining a proposal to set up a ‘National Aeronautical Search and Rescue Board’ though there is no timeline for it to become operational yet. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said in Lok Sabha today in a written reply that this board will help in the search for a missing aircraft, its crew and passengers and will provide aid, organize the rescue of survivors of aircraft accidents. [caption id=“attachment_2359588” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] The draft National Aeronautical Search and Rescue Manual provides for constitution of such a board for handling aeronautical exigencies. But the minister went on to add that no timeline has been fixed for this purpose as it involves wide range of consultations with various participating agencies. Presently, in case of exigencies, the Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC) of Airports Authority of India coordinates with concerned agencies including Army, Air Force etc. In reply to another question, Sharma said the Ministry of Civil Aviation had engaged an expert team of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in 2011 for making suggestions for restructuring of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and for sufficient operational infrastructure for aviation security. On the basis of the recommendation of the said expert team, the ministry has already worked out the requirement of manpower in BCAS. The minister did not specify what this new requirement was and if it has already been implemented. He further said the strengthening of BCAS is expected to ensure presence of the regulatory authority (for civil aviation security in the country) at all airports, which will enable better functioning at field level leading to better security oversight and quality control of civil aviation security.