Centre notifies draft rules to clear obstacles near airports

The central government issued draft rules on Wednesday to regulate and remove physical obstructions around airports, six days after the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, the deadliest in three decades, as authorities separately spoke of plans to survey structures near the city's airport for potential safety violations.
The Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions Caused by Buildings and Trees etc.) Rules, 2025, were notified on June 18 under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, and are open for public feedback for 21 days. The rules aim to replace the three-decade-old Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions) Rules, 1994.
Under the proposed framework, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will have expanded authority to take action against any structure violating height restrictions around airports. 'Any building or tree that violates notified height restrictions around airports may face demolition or height reduction orders from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),' the draft rules state.
The regulations establish a detailed enforcement mechanism where airport authorities must notify owners of potential violations and conduct physical verification. Property owners will be required to submit structural details within 60 days, with a possible 60-day extension if granted.
'If the DGCA determines, after providing an opportunity for a hearing, that a building or tree violates safety norms, an order can be issued for its demolition, trimming, or reduction in height,' the draft states.
In cases of non-compliance, district collectors will be authorised to enforce demolition procedures, treating violations as unauthorised construction under local law. 'On receiving the report from the officer-in-charge of the aerodrome, the district collector shall carry out forthwith the demolition of the building or the cutting of the tree or reduction in height of the building... in the same manner and by the same procedure as is followed in case of demolition of any unauthorized construction in his district,' the rules specify.
The draft rules come as authorities prepare to conduct a comprehensive survey around Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport following last week's crash. According to PTI, Ahmedabad district collector Sujeet Kumar told reporters that 'a survey of areas surrounding the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport here will be conducted by the officials of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Civil Aviation department.'
'Once the survey gets over, subsequent necessary work will be initiated,' Kumar said. The collector cited the new draft rules as providing the framework for potential action against structures posing threats to aircraft safety.
Some analysts cautioned that while many airports around the country have buildings nearby that violate height norms, following through with an actual demolition will be hard. 'While it's easy to make rules, it will be next to impossible to implement them,' given the scale of non-conforming structures, said Mark Martin, founder and CEO at Martin Consulting, an aviation advisory firm, Bloomberg reported.
An official at the Delhi airport said a survey will be initiated to identify obstructions in the Capital by both the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the directorate general of civil aviation. 'The Air Traffic Control (ATC) directly reports to the AAI and so it will share information on possible obstructions. Both AAI and DGCA will also do their own surveys,' said the official, pointing to a similar exercise done in 2018 when 369 obstructions were identified, including trees, poles and buildings. 'Subsequently, AAI also took action against these obstructions,' the airport official added.
Compensation provisions are limited under the proposed new framework. 'Compensation may be available but only for compliant or pre-existing structures. New constructions violating notified height restrictions will not be eligible,' the rules specify.
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a medical hostel complex in Meghaninagar area moments after take-off on June 12, killing all but one of the 242 people aboard and 29 others on the ground.
The aircraft departed Ahmedabad airport at 1:39 PM on June 12, with the pilot issuing a Mayday distress call shortly after take-off before the plane crashed into the medical complex located outside the airport compound.

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Only when UCADA terms and conditions are changed, including their financial clauses on penalties, with the insight of aviation experts, can we expect a solution'. 'There are DGCA-imposed limits for pilot fatigue management. It merits scrutiny how operators and pilots are able to fill the ever-increasing demand for helicopter rides in a sector that has seen slow uptick in regulations that affect the supply side. Often, violations only come to light when an accident occurs,' said Commander K.P. Sanjeev Kumar (retd), a former Navy test pilot. 'The FDTL caps flight time at 7 hours to mitigate fatigue-induced errors. However, the pressure to fly even under adverse conditions may conceal overwork. Experience can also be a double-edged sword. Higher experience may also come with higher risk-appetite that can tilt the scale in a sector where self-regulation is key,' he added. In the most recent Kedarnath crash, the FIR alleges that weather checks were bypassed and the helicopter took off earlier than the approved 6-7 am window. Aryan Aviation, the operator, was previously fined in May 2022 for safety violations, including falsified flight logs, inaccurate flying records, and not complying with maintenance schedules. 'Aryan Aviation Pvt. Ltd., along with its manager Vikas Tomar and accountable manager Kaushik Pathak, were well aware that disregarding the SOPs could result in loss of life and property. The circumstances of the accident show that Aryan Aviation Pvt. Ltd. and its managers did not comply with the SOPs issued by DGCA and UCADA and exhibited gross negligence in fulfilling their duties, which led to the accident,' the FIR said. Under joint SOPs by UCADA and DGCA, each helicopter operator is required to appoint personnel to ensure compliance. 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UCADA & DGCA roles The incidents have raised serious questions about UCADA's role, with sources citing a lack of transparency, even in basic metrics like daily seat capacity for pilgrims. UCADA was formed in 2013 by the state government to develop Uttarakhand's civil aviation sector into a sustainable model. It not only manages the helipads used by the choppers, but also selects the operators among bidders. UCADA and DGCA work in tandem. According to Singh, UCADA is responsible for the aviation infrastructure, while technical oversight—such as taking actions on technical norms being flouted and compliance checks—falls under the purview of the DGCA. 'We are an administrative body and are responsible for infrastructure and other facilities. We do conduct random checks and also officials check from the control room, but there are multiple helipads at work, rounds of sorties every day. The operator is responsible for adhering to the operations circular by the DGCA. It is a binding contract for them. We can only administratively restrict them. The technical supervision is by DGCA and they have the final say on technical matters here. We inform DGCA on whatever we find during our random checks and whatever comes up in the live camera feeds,' Singh said. Both UCADA and DGCA have in the past taken strict measures against those found to be flouting norms, she said. 'The tender process is done by UCADA but the licensing and the respective clearances by the operators is not our department,' she explained, adding that the head of operations of the UCADA is a position with aviation expertise but it is operated from Dehradun. 'We have been in talks to expand and get people with aviation expertise. As far as the tendering process is concerned, there will be talks with all stakeholders on how to make sure that operators don't flout norms and to streamline the process,' she added. As per the two investigation reports—on the 2022 crash and the incident in 2023—the responsibility of operations in the Kedarnath valley lies with individual operators conducting operations at Kedarnath Shrine. In all three incidents, including the one on Sunday, the choppers had taken off from the Kedarnath helipad, owned by UCADA. The reports clarify that UCADA's role is limited to administrative inspections, such as helipad facilities and passenger arrangements. Technical oversight and inspections fall under the DGCA, which acts on inputs provided by UCADA. 'It was further informed that the operations in every season are started only after the inspection/surveillance of DGCA is carried out and UCADA ensures that the observations therein are actioned. They also carry out inspection in-between during the operations to check if the requirements are maintained. Most of the requirements have been made part of joint SOP,' the final investigation report on the October 2022 crash released last year notes. The reports also note that while operators are usually responsible for flights from helipads they exclusively use, accountability becomes unclear at the Kedarnath helipad, which is shared by all operators. 'Even though the helipad at Kedarnath is provided by UCADA, the responsibility of ensuring safety and availability of firefighting facilities at the helipad has also been entrusted to operators. Hence, each and every responsibility for safe conduct of flight in the region lies with the operators which means operators are allowed to conduct the flights at their own discretion without any clarity and supervision of operations,' this October 2022 final investigation report notes which was also highlighted in the 2023 incident report Weather tracking a challenge, lessons from past crashes forgotten Experts note that Kedarnath's rugged terrain offers pilots minimal room to maneuver, while sudden cloud surges and unpredictable weather add to the risks. The absence of essential ground infrastructure—like an ATC center or an Aviation Meteorological Station—at the Kedarnath helipad further compounds the challenge. Pilots and the operators crew track weather conditions using apps, data from weather stations, information from the IMD in Dehradun, camera data, photos from the helipads at the mouth of the valley and information relayed by people at local stations. The sole responsibility of accessing the weather conditions before accepting the flight lies with the pilot. Currently, pilots, crew, and operators in the valley rely on radio calls to communicate flight status from takeoff and during flight, including weather updates. Past accident reports have noted that there is no procedure to ensure all pilots successfully receive Radiotelephony (RT) calls, making the system unreliable and prone to missed communications. 'Despite recent accidents, the helicopters operating in Kedarnath are suitable for the terrain, and the pilots are highly experienced in mountain flying. The DGCA, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Department, operators, and pilots remain fully engaged in maintaining safe and efficient operations. Thousands of flights have been conducted safely over the years, but the recent incidents underscore the need for urgent review. Around 20-30 helicopters fly daily, carrying large numbers of pilgrims, making real-time supervision and alertness critical. However, ground infrastructure remains inadequate. While CCTV-based weather monitoring exists, it lacks the accuracy and sophistication of modern meteorological tools. Pilots need real-time, satellite-linked weather data to navigate the region safely,' Air Commodore B.S. Siwach (Veteran), Director General, Aviation Safety India, said. 'Airspace management is another major gap. A dedicated Air Traffic Coordination system is essential for managing high traffic volumes and ensuring timely weather updates. Given the revenue generated from these operations, the Civil Aviation Department must invest in safety infrastructure. Safety cannot rely on reactive fixes. A long-term, technology-driven strategy is needed. An independent expert body should be formed to audit operations, identify gaps, and recommend actionable reforms. These must be implemented swiftly to restore public confidence and ensure lasting safety,' he added. Former UCADA CEO Sonika Singh echoed similar sentiments. 'Here, the pilots are flying from one height to another, crossing hills and the valley. The weather conditions change rapidly,' highlighting the need for an ATC centre. Without ATC now, the responsibility of controlling the air traffic in the valley also lies with the operators themselves. 'Right now, everything is done manually, including watching and monitoring take offs and landings and weather conditions. With an ATC, everything will be streamlined. We are also in talks with IMD for a meteorological station. Right now, weather information is taken from Dehradun,' she said, adding that these measures will also help keep tabs on operator errors. There are some weather cameras installed at entry and exit points, but she said that these aren't helpful in determining cross-valley weather conditions. After Sunday's crash, UCADA was instructed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to conduct a thorough checking of all helicopter operators and pilots before flights resumed two days after the incident. A command-and-control room is also to be set up in order to monitor real-time flight operations and send alerts. In a 2023 response, the MoCA had stated that DGCA checks compliance of rules during certifications and before granting permit to operate commercial operations, and also post certification. The response also notes that the DGCA's operations circular on pilgrimage helicopter services mandates additional safety measures, which must be followed by all stakeholders—including shrine boards, state governments, and helicopter operators. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Pilots flying your planes are stressed, sleep-deprived. 'It wasn't as intense earlier, now it's chaos'