The Airport Authority of India (AAI), under the Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA), annually observes Aviation Safety Awareness Week (ASAW) every November at all airports and Air Navigation Services (ANS) locations it manages across India to promote aviation safety awareness.
- Aviation Safety Awareness Week 2025 was observed from 24th to 28th November 2025.
Exam Hints:
- Event: Aviation Safety Awareness Week (ASAW) 2025
- When? November 24 to 28, 2025
- By: Airports Authority of India (AAI), MoCA
- Purpose: Promote aviation safety awareness across airports & ANS locations.
History of Indian Aviation:
Early Beginnings: India’s civil aviation journey began in 1911 when pilot Henri Pequet operated the country’s first commercial flight from Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh, UP) to Naini (UP), covering a distance of about 10 miles.
Scheduled Air Services: The establishment of Tata Airlines in 1932 marked the formal beginning of scheduled air services in India.
Global Integration: In 1947, India became a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), strengthening its presence in global aviation.
First Woman Pilot: Sarla Thakral created history by becoming India’s first woman pilot, a milestone that opened new horizons for women in aviation.
Key Government Schemes in Aviation:
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) – Regional Connectivity Scheme: Launched in 2016, UDAN aims to make air travel affordable and expand regional connectivity by reviving unserved and underserved airports.
- It provides Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airlines and has enabled multiple new routes under UDAN 5.0 and later phases, boosting socio-economic growth through enhanced air accessibility.
Krishi UDAN: Introduced in 2020, Krishi UDAN focuses on improving air transportation of agricultural and perishable products.
DigiYatra: Launched in 2022, DigiYatra enables seamless, paperless, and contactless travel using facial recognition–based biometric boarding. It reduces waiting times at check-in, security, and boarding gates, modernizing airport processes and enhancing passenger convenience across major airports.
NABH (Nextgen Airports For Bharat) Nirman: Started in 2018, NABH Nirman focuses on expanding airport infrastructure to manage rising passenger traffic. It promotes development of greenfield airports, upgrades brownfield airports, and strengthens connectivity for Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to support long-term aviation growth.
Greenfield Airports Policy: Implemented in 2008, this policy promotes the development of new airports under a transparent, Public-Private Partnership(PPP)-friendly framework. Major airports built under the policy include Mopa Airport (Goa) and Noida International Airport (Uttar Pradesh, UP), supporting aviation expansion in high-growth regions.
About Airport Authority of India(AAI):
The AAI is a government-owned statutory organization under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
- As of 2025, AAI manages 137 airports, including 24 international airports, 10 customs airports, 80 domestic airports, and 23 domestic civil enclaves at defence airfields.
Chairman – Vipin Kumar
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1995
