78.  Licensing of Aerodromes – (1) No aerodrome other than a defence aerodrome shall be used as a regular place of landing and departure by a scheduled air transport service or for a series of landings and departures by any  aircraft carrying passengers or cargo for hire or reward unless --  

(a) it has been licensed for the purpose, and save in accordance with the conditions prescribed in such licence; or 

(b) it has been approved by the Director-General, subject to   such conditions as he may deem fit to impose, for the purpose of  operation of flights in the event of national or international crisis, natural calamities, emergencies or otherwise requiring such flights to carry material goods  for  relief purposes, or for  giving joyrides for hire or reward:   

Provided that any person already permitted and operating scheduled air transport services to an aerodrome before the commencement of the Aircraft (4th Amendment) Rules, 2004 may continue operation of such services till the aerodrome operator obtains the licence from the Director-General by the date to be notified by the Central Government. 

(1A) A defence aerodrome shall not be used as a regular place of landing and departure by a scheduled air transport service, unless it has been certified as per the requirements specified by the Director-General:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-rule shall apply to a defence aerodrome, for such a period as may be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette, if such scheduled air transport services are already operating to that aerodrome on the date of commencement of the Aircraft (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2016.

(2)  An aerodrome shall be licensed by the Central Government in one of the following categories, namely:-  (a) for public use; (b) for private use, that this is to say, for use by the licensee and by individuals specifically authorized by the licensee. 

(3)  An aerodrome may be licensed for all types of aircraft or for certain specified types or classes of aircraft and the licence may specify the conditions on which the aerodrome may be used.  

(4)  No person shall operate or cause to be operated any flight  from a temporary aerodrome or an aerodrome which has not been licensed or approved, as the case may be, under these rules unless it meets the minimum  safety requirements laid down  by the Director-General. 

[Substituted by – GSR No. 732(E) dated 02-11-2004

Amended by GSR No. 977(E) dated 5-10-2016]

 

 BACK TO RULES               NEXT RULE