US FAA to assess India's aviation safety oversight. What it means and why it matters

With around 45 days left for the US aviation regulator to assess India’s aviation safety oversight system, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is making a final push to inspect airlines and address issues, if any.But why does the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) assessment matter, and what could be at stake for India?What does the FAA assess?The FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme assesses the country’s civil aviation regulator, rather than individual airlines. It examines whether the regulator has the laws, technical expertise, trained personnel, procedures and resources needed to effectively oversee airlines in accordance with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The assessment covers eight critical areas, including aviation legislation, operating regulations, technical personnel and training, licensing and certification, surveillance of airlines and resolution of safety concerns.This is why the DGCA’s intensive inspections of airlines ahead of the November 16-20 assessment are significant.