On Saturday I wrote about how India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) essentially issued an order threatening airlines that allow photography on planes. Well, just 24 hours after the original order was issued, the DGCA has "clarified" the policy, or more accurately, walked back on it. The DGCA has issued the following clarification regarding…
Continue reading: Indian Regulators Backtrack On Airplane Picture Ban
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Ben,
There is nothing to clarify. India has 500 different rules which are never enforced but no one will update them and make them more logical because who wants to take responsibility in case something goes wrong? The bureaucratic response is to use a hammer when a gentle poke would suffice!
True story: why don’t Indian airlines flying within India serve alcohol? Because a passenger in the 1990s flying on a domestic route imbibed too much and created a ruckus. Just like people do all over the world. But Instead of merely banning the guy, Indian regulators just banned alcohol on all domestic flights! And no one has changed it in the last 30 years! Because if someone allows it, and when the next person creates a ruckus—as it will inevitably happen—the guy would be blamed and taken to the cleaner. So just preserve the status quo. And I suspect even airlines might be fine with it because they don’t have to serve free alcohol to premium cabin travelers. Government regulations you see!
They are absolutely correct.
As per Rule 13 of the Aircraft Rules 1937, nobody may engage in photography unless otherwise authorised in writing.
The authorisation in writing was granted via order No. 9/12/2003-IR.
Order No. 8/100/2009-IR clarifies this.
To fight the bureaucrat, you must understand the bureaucrat. We can ill afford another Kangana.