ACP Program Introduction

The U.S-India Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) is a unique bilateral public-private partnership launched in 2007 between the U.S. Trade Development Agency (USTDA), the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. aviation companies, has been established to provide a forum for unified communication between the Government of India and U.S. public and private sector entities in India. Under this public-private partnership, USTDA has sponsored an conference in New Delhi, a multi-phase Air Traffic Management Training Program, and technical workshops on certification of India’s satellite navigation system, GAGAN, and Air Traffic Flow Management practices. New projects include a Helicopter Aviation Safety and Aviation Standards and Processes technical assistance program for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The ACP is working mechanism through which Indian aviation sector officials can work with U.S. civil aviation representatives to highlight specific areas for technical cooperation. The ACP executive committee consists of both U.S. Government and US Industry (private sector) representatives, and its secretariat will function as the focal point for responding to Indian Government areas of interest i.e. aerospace and aviation sector by identifying appropriate training programs, Technology updates and other cooperative activities as well. The ACP secretariat will be responsible for managing and organizing the identified training and technical cooperation activities.

ACP is also expanding the activities in General Aviation, Aviation Security and Green Technology in aviation sector. To make ACP more focused in the activity area published a magazine “Shared Horizons” to become more visible in the aviation sector. A hard copy of the magazine is distributed across the stake holder’s table to take the note of the ACP on-going activities. This provides further mileage to ACP Members Company as well.

The ACP coordinates in identified Government and Aviation industry priorities in the area of interest, develop corresponding activity proposal, and recommend the proposal to U.S. Government agencies, such as USTDA, the FAA, and U.S. industry for support. Specific technical cooperation programs will depend on the priorities of Indian and U.S. officials to identify, and include training opportunities in India as well as in the United States, e.g. on-the-job training, and personnel exchange programs.

The ACP member company has leverage to interact directly with MoCA, DGCA, AAI, Pawan Hans Helicopter Limited, BCAS etc. through ACP Secretariat which provides more interactive session like Seminars, Workshops, Conference and meeting with stake holder’s to discuss about your product / services etc.

The tremendous growth in Indian aviation and the importance of this traffic to South Asia and the United States has prompted the US FAA to send its first representative to New Delhi. A lot has happened since Mr. Randall S. Fiertz arrived in July 2006. Under this arrangement, however, the FAA is able to work with a team of American companies to present joint solutions for aviation safety problems. The result is more flexibility and more possibilities under what is called an Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP). A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for this program was initiated in April-2007 during visit to India by Federal Aviation Administrator Ms Marion Blakey brings it into effect. The formal signing ceremony took place in Washington, DC on June 22, 2007 between Indian Minister of Civil Aviation Mr. Praful Patel and US Trade Develop Agency.

2008 was the ACP’s first year of operation, 19 US companies joined the ACP throughout the year, and the ACP initiated its first two projects – completed one in October. In addition, the ACP proposed four additional projects to commence in 2009.

2008 also found the ACP firmly establish itself with a highly acclaimed presence in the Indian
Aviation 2008 air show at Hyderabad, India.

Initially, the ACP intends:

• to focus on activities that support air traffic/air space management enhancements and the
  challenge of rapidly increasing aviation traffic in India.
• to focus on activities of Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) and ATM
  automation
  infrastructure to support airspace management. This vital area is to focus before looking
  for
  restructuring of the Indian airspace.
• to focus on passenger facilitation technology i.e. most of the system will be installed
  within
  the terminal building and its security aspects system. This is basic area of requirements.
• to focus on aviation metrological services, which plays important role for operation of
  aircraft
  movements. In Indian context, aviation metrological services are not upto
  the required level. This area is more technology incentive and later is training of
  manpower.
• to focus on aviation safety management, flight standards for various type of aircrafts,
  pilot
  and ATCO licensing, CNS equipment certification and licensing the CNS personnel and helping
  DGCA-India for implementation of Civil Aviation. Requirements(CAR) on Indian context, etc.
  ACP
  will assist in setting up the MRO facilities in India.
• to carry out the study on airport environment and emission impact on Indian aviation.

The ACP will coordinate identified government and industry priorities in these areas, develop corresponding activities, and recommend activities that U.S. Government agencies, such as USTDA, the FAA, and U.S. private industry can support. Specific technical cooperation programs will depend on the priorities Indian and U.S. officials identify, and may include training opportunities in India and the United States, on-the-job training, and personnel exchange programs.