Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of India and applies to---
   • (a) citizens of India wherever they may be;
   • (b) the aircraft, and the persons on aircraft, registered in India wherever they may be;
   • (c) the aircraft, and the persons on aircraft, registered outside India, but for the time being in or over India; and
   • (d) an aircraft operated by a person who is not a citizen of India but has his principal place of business or permanent residence in India.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,---

1. (1) "aerodrome" means any definite or limited ground or water area intended to be used, either wholly or in part, for the landing, departure and surface movement of aircraft, and includes all buildings, sheds, vessels, piers and other structures thereon or appertaining thereto;
2. (2) "aerodrome reference point", in relation to any aerodrome, means a designated point established in the horizontal plane at or near the geometric centre of that part of the aerodrome reserved for the departure or landing of aircraft;
3. (3) "aircraft" means any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from reactions of the air, other than reactions of the air against the earths surface;
4. (4) "Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau" means the Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau constituted under section 7;
5. (5) "Bureau of Civil Aviation Security" means the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security constituted under section 5;
6. (6) "design" means the set of data and information that defines the configuration of an aeronautical product type, its associated parts and appliances for the purpose of airworthiness determination;
7. (7) "Directorate General of Civil Aviation" means the Directorate General of Civil Aviation constituted under section 3;
8. (8) "export" means taking out of India;
9. (9) "import" means bringing into India;
10. (10) "maintenance" means the performance of the tasks on an aircraft, engine, propeller or associated part required to ensure the continuing airworthiness of an aircraft, engine, propeller or associated part including any one or combination of overhaul, inspection, replacement, defect rectification, and the embodiment of a modification or repair;
11. (11) "manufacture" means the performance of tasks that involve assembly or production of aircraft, engine, propeller or associated parts and appliances in conformity with its applicable design including prototype;
12. (12) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.