An Introduction to Air Transport

Prepared by:
Dr. Vaibhav Sharma
 General
• Transportation is an important factor for the social and economic
development of any region or country.
• The economic development of the nation links its direct benefits with
the efficient system of transportation.
• The basic function of transportation is to carry passengers and goods
from one place to the another.
• In respect to the transportation of goods, it is essential that they cost
the minimum and are available when and where wanted.
• In total economic process, the transportation need is deeply concerned.
That is, if for the process of manufacturing any good, it is required to
bring raw materials from far off distances to the factory site, with
inefficient transport system, the cost of production would be high.
Same goes with the finished product as well.
 Advantages of Air Transport
• Rapidity: Air transport maintains the highest speed.
• Continuous Journey: It is continuous over land and water without
loss of the time unlike other modes of transport.
• Accessibility: It has the unique ability to open up any region that is
inaccessible by other means of transportation
 Limitations of Air Transport
• Operating Expenses: Like, cost of air vehicles, traffic control systems etc.
Thus the freight charges are comparatively high. This mode of transport
accommodates very few travellers and small cargo which have led to bear
high expenses for the unit weight.
• Capacity: Weight carrying capacity of aircrafts is lowest amongst other
carriers of transport.
• Weather Conditions: Foggy conditions are absolutely not convenient for
the landing and take-off operations of an aircraft.
• Flight Rules: Air transport is more beneficial for the international travels,
such as certain laws in respect to the international aviation have to be
observed. International civil aviation organization (ICAO) is one body
which develops standards and laws for international flights.
 Important International Organizations
• There are number of industrial organizations active in the area
of air transportation.
– International Airport Transport Association (IATA): Its role is to foster
the interests of civil aviation, to provide a forum for industry views and
to establish industry practices.
– International Civil Airports Association (ICAA): Its role is to serve as a
forum and focus for the views and interests of civil airport operators.
– Institute of Air Transport (IAT): It is an association of individuals and
organizations with interest in civil aviation.
 Directorate of Civil Aviation
• Though the Directorate of Civil Aviation was set up in 1927, the civil
aviation department really took shape only in the year 1945 with
the establishment of the post of Director General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA).
The functions of DGCA are :
– Regulatory functions: Airworthiness of aircraft; Licensing of
personnel, investigation of incidents/ accidents, bilateral
matters, approval of tariffs/ schedules etc.
– Administering the domestic airports other than the
International Airports which were run by International Airport
Authority of India (IAAI).
– Providing navigation/ communication facilities and air traffic
services.
 National Airports Authority (NAA)
• It was established to carve out the DGCA on June 1, 1986 through
an act of parliament.
• It provided all the essential facilities to make the flight possible by
managing:
– The runways
– The technical buildings
– Air traffic control services
– Radio navigation and security
– The safety of all operations
 International Airports Authority of India
(IAAI)
• With the introduction of jet aircraft, and a gradual increase in the
size of the aircraft, passenger air traffic increased considerably
resulting in serious congestions and delays at the airports.
• To review this situation and to recommend measures which could
enable civil aviation in India to keep abreast of world wide
developments, the IAAI was set up in April, 1972 to:
– Plan
– Develop
– Construct
– Maintain the International Airports
 Airports Authority of India (AAI)
• It was formed on April 1, 1995 by merging the IAAI and NAA with a
view to accelerate the integrated development, expansion and
modernization of the operational, terminal and cargo facilities at
the Airports in the country conforming to international standards.
• It controls and manages the entire Indian airspace extending even
beyond the territorial limits of the country.
• Facilities:
– Communication, Navigation and Surveillance system (CNS) facilities.
– Passenger facilities like, STD/ISD/PCO; Entertainment TV’s; Soft drink
vending machines; Black & white X-Ray machines replaced by color
machines for security reasons and multi channel voice recorders (to
mitigate terrorist attacks)
– Cargo facilities: To facilitate the export of fruits and vegetables, a
walk-in-type cold room has been installed; Airline oriented functions
such as palletisation/ depalletisation have been commenced.
 International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO)
• The nations of the world have established the ICAO to serve as the
medium through which the necessary International understanding
and agreement between nations in all the technical and economic
and legal fields so that the air can be the high road to carry man
and his goods anywhere and everywhere without restraint and halt.
• With the signing of a treaty in December, 1944, ICAO was created as
an Inter Governmental Organization and in 1947 became a
specialized agency in relationship with the United Nations.
• Its Headquarter is in Montreal, Canada
• Its Regional offices are in:

Nairobi Cairo Dakar Lima

(Kenya) (Egypt) (Senegal) (Peru)
Mexico City Paris Bangkok (Thailand)
(Mexico) (France) Sub-office: Beijing (China)
 ICAO continued…..
• It provides the machinery for the achievement of International co-
operation in the air.
• It provides the International link between civil and military flying
activities.
• Specific recommendations and guidelines, issued by ICAO cover the
following:
– Co-ordination between the military authorities and the traffic services.
– Co-ordination of activities potentially dangerous to civil aircraft.
– Strayed or unidentified aircrafts.
• An aircraft that has deviated significantly from its intended track or reports that it is
lost. As soon as an ATS (air traffic services) unit becomes aware of a strayed aircraft,
it takes all necessary steps to assist the aircraft and safeguard its flight.
• An aircraft may be considered as “strayed” by one unit and as “unidentified” by
another.
– Interception of civil aircraft.
• Entering national airspace without a filed flight plan, entering restricted or prohibited airspace
through misnavigation.
 ICAO continued…..
• It also works in close co-operation with other members of the
United Nations family such as:
– World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
– International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
– Universal Postal Union (UPU)
– World Health Organization (WHO)
– Inter-governmental Mantime Consultative Organization (IMCO)
• Non-governmental organizations which also participate in ICAO’s
work include:
– International Air Transport Association (IATA)
– International federation Airline Pilot Association (IFAPA)
– International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (ICAOPA)
• Provides assistance to developing countries by provision of:
• International experts, instructors, training, equipment and fellowships or
training abroad.
 Structure of ICAO
• The Assembly
– It is the sovereign body of ICAO and meets every 3 years at a place and time
convened by the council.
– All contracting states may be represented and decisions are taken by a majority
of vote cast.
– Financial arrangements are determined and a triennial budget voted.
– The work of the Council is reviewed and directions and recommendations
given for future action.
• The Council
– A permanent governing body, composed of 33 members elected by the assembly.
– The council elects its own President.
– Responsible for maintaining the safety and regularity of International air transport
and to encourage the growth of air services throughout the world.
– Controls and co-ordinates the work of six additional representative bodies:
Air Navigation commission Air Transport Committee ICAO Secretariat
Legal committee Finance Committee Committee for joint support of
Air Navigation Services
 Structure of ICAO continued…
• The ICAO Secretariat is headed by a Secretary General and is
divided into five divisions:
– Air Navigation Bureau
– Technical Assistance Bureau
– Air Transport Bureau
– Legal Bureau
– Bureau of Administration and Services
• In addition to regular staff, the services of experts are obtained
from time to time by loan from member states.