Arun Mishra is set take over as the new chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation within this month after the dramatic ouster of E. K. Bharat Bhushan from the post.

Joint Secretary Prashant Sukul is heading the country’s aviation sector regulator till the new heads joins office. Mishra is likely to join the DGCA as the head for a period of one year. Bhushan has ebbn moved to the steel ministry as additional secretary and financial advisor and S Machendranathan from the steel ministry will join the aviation ministry.

Bhushan’s abrupt removal comes just days after Appointments Committee reconfirmed his post at the DGCA. His removal is seems to be a direct result of pressure from airlines including Kingfisher Airlines and Air India. Bhushan made sure that the airlines ensured safety norms even as they continue to face financial problems and also objected to importing old aircraft, something that drew criticism from the airlines.

The civil aviation ministry is changing the qualifications required for DGCA head under its ongoing effort to overhaul the system. The regulator will soon convert into the Civil Aviation Authority through an Act of Parliament.