Minister of Civil Aviation, P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju has said that internal and external security angles have to be addressed to achieve a foolproof safety for fliers and aircrafts. He was speaking at the 28th anniversary function of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) here today. Lauding the role of the Bureau in strengthening the impression that Indian sky is a relatively safe space, the Minister stressed that security measures should be meaningful without obstructing economic activities as growth in civil aviation sector has a direct impact on the economic growth of the country. The vision of security should be based on thinking one step ahead of the criminal mind, he added. He also underlined the connectivity among unconnected areas of the country as the immediate need of the hour.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that BCAS should focus on upgradation of security measures in compliance with international standards while strengthening preparedness for any eventuality at airports. Presence of mind and competence to take on- the- spot decisions should be the essential component of any security measures, he added. He further said that the lessons derived from accidents and experiences make it necessary for a formation like BCAS to have an integral R&D wing. Mentioning the constraints of the BCAS, Secretary Civil Aviation, Shri V. Somasundaran informed that the Ministry is in the process of moving a proposal to increase the manpower of the organization as the demands created by increase in the number of airports and growth in air traffic get higher and higher.
In the year 2014, BCAS carried out 166 audits and inspections, 75anti hijack mock exercises and 333 surprise checks. It also arranged for Aviation Security (AVSEC) training of 24,803 persons. Its training centre has won ICAO accreditation making it the AVSEC training hub for South Asia. Recently, all national documents have been revised and brought in line with the latest regulations of International Civil Aviation Organization( ICAO).