The Hindu : DGCA relaxes rules on photography in civil aerodromes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 10, 2003

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National

DGCA relaxes rules on photography in civil aerodromes

By T.S. Shankar

CHENNAI OCT. 9. In an indication of liberalisation in the aviation sector, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an order lifting the restrictions on photography in the terminal building of civil aerodromes.

The order dated August 25, 2003 issued by Satendra Singh, Director-General of Civil Aviation, New Delhi, states: "In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to Rule 13 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, the Director-General of Civil Aviation hereby directs that the restriction on photography at aerodromes as specified in Rule 13 of the said rules shall not apply in the terminal building of the civil aerodromes".

According to Rule 13 no person shall take, or cause or permit to be taken, at a Government aerodrome or from an aircraft in flight, any photograph except in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of a permission in writing granted by the Director-General, a Deputy Director-General, the Director of Regulations and Information or a Controller of Aerodromes of the Civil Aviation Department provided that the Director-General from time to time, may, by notification in the official Gazette, direct that these restrictions shall not apply to photography at any government aerodrome, or within such limits of any Government aerodrome as may be specified in the order.

In a related development with regard to use of mobile/cellular phones inside the aircraft, the Joint Director-General of Civil Aviation, K. Gohain, has clarified in a circular that airline operators "may permit use of mobile/cellular telephones inside the aircraft when the aircraft is on ground with passengers' door open, provided that the following activities are not in progress: aircraft fuelling; pre-flight functions like entries in flight management system and GPS Navigation systems and aircraft RT communication. It is reiterated that the use of mobile/cellular telephones is not permitted after all passenger doors are closed for the flight".

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