New Delhi, February 26 The DGCA, the aviation regulator facing a significant staff shortage, is looking to hire 38 consultants for airworthiness, air safety, and other directorates.
Applications have been sought for 24 consultants at the Directorate of Airworthiness and 6 consultants at the Directorate of Air Safety, according to a public notice.
In addition, 5 senior consultants and 2 consultants would be hired at the Directorate of International Relations and Legal Affairs (DIRLA).
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) would also be hiring consultants at the Directorate of Flying Training, according to another public notice.
All these consultants would be recruited on a contract basis, initially for one year, subject to certain conditions. The upper age limit for applicants is 63 years.
The regulator has been facing a staff shortage, as nearly half of the sanctioned posts are vacant.
On February 5, the Ministry of Civil Aviation told the Lok Sabha that there were 1,630 sanctioned posts at the regulator as of January 15, and 787 of these positions were vacant.
Out of the total posts, 441 – 426 technical and 15 non-technical posts – were created during the period 2022 to 2024 as part of the restructuring of the DGCA.
The ministry had stated that adequate steps have been taken from time to time to fill the vacancies.
"In situations where the posts remain vacant due to various reasons such as inadequate response to advertisements, non-joining of selected candidates, insufficient response to deputation posts, etc., and to meet the requirement in the interim, efforts are made to recruit persons through short-term contractual hiring," it had said in a written reply.
Meanwhile, according to the public notices, appointments would initially be for one year "or until the consultants attain the age of 65 years or until the consultants remain eligible according to eligibility requirements or until the regular incumbent(s) join(s) or until further orders, whichever is earlier".
The deadline for submitting applications is March 23.