NEW DELHI: Safety was the key issue at Delhi airport on Monday in more ways than one. With a team from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) visiting Delhi airport to conduct its first safety audit, it gave the authorities a chance to assess where the Capital stands among other airports around the world on safety. With the mushrooming of a number of no-frill airlines in Indian skies and many more people taking to the air in recent years, the audit comes at a crucial time in Indian aviation.

"The team is in India for ten days and will spend a day examining the safety procedures at Delhi airport. It will also look at the procedures followed by the airlines and whether they comply with international safety regulations The team will look at particularly at the procedures followed in the aerodrome and the flight navigation system,'' said an official at the airport. The team is also reported to have studied the flight operations of Sahara Airlines on Monday. "The team will study various safety issues. They will look at flight safety, aircraft maintenance and cargo. It will also study the working of other airlines operating in the domestic and international sector,'' said an airport official.

While this is the first time that a safety audit of Delhi airport is being done by ICAO, a team had conducted a security audit of the airport last year. Apart from examining the compliance of international safety regulations, the team will also study the changes planned by the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). "The audit which will be conducted is aimed at developing a comprehensive system approach towards safety,'' said an official. The team will be travelling to Mumbai on Tuesday to assess the safety procedures at the airport there. Committed to safer skies , ICAO has 189 members.

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