IAF Chief pushes for regulation of aerospace industries

In order to cut "wasteful expenditure" and duplication of efforts, Chief of Air Staff F H Major today sought creation of an apex body to coordinate and regulate aerospace industries.

In order to cut "wasteful expenditure" and duplication of efforts, Chief of Air Staff F H Major today sought creation of an apex body to coordinate and regulate aerospace industries.

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India's economic upswing in the last two decades has resulted in substantial surge in aerospace industries in the country, the Air Chief Marshal said, adding "this is an encouraging sign".

However, as the aerospace industry is unregulated, "we run the risk of wasteful expenditure and duplication of efforts", the Air Chief Marshal said addressing a seminar conducted biennially along with Asia's biggest air show, Aero India 2009, which gets underway here on Wednesday.

"Therefore, there is a definite need for an effective apex agency to coordinate and regulate the activities of many organs that constitute our aerospace industry and to provide focus so that (there is) development of a coherent national aerospace capability", he said.

The Chief of Air Staff said India must identify core technologies to be developed, and aggressively design and manufacture them. Attempting to design and develop "every thing" is not cost-effective, he said.