Ever since man dreamt of emulating birds and ventured to fly, safety and airworthiness have been major issues of concern. Operational demands coupled with extreme environmental stringency make aviation an activity least tolerant of failures. While performance goals could be achieved by the creative genius of the design team, refined by the practical wisdom of experts, a safe and reliable design requires certain safety norms be met. The minimum acceptable levels of safety and reliability necessitate an independent regulatory system which anticipates potential failures, assess deviations in design and manufacture, simulates operational demands, evaluates and certifies designs to ensure airworthiness.
The first formal activity by independent organization started in 1958 at HAL, Bangalore office by formation of Regional Technical Office, Aircraft. CENTRE FOR MILITARY AIRWORTHINESS & CERTIFICATION (CEMILAC), established in 1994, functions from Bangalore, the citadel of aerospace activities in India. Airworthiness functions related to military aircraft and airborne systems, hitherto discharged by Directorate of Aeronautics, are now totally dealt by CEMILAC. The erstwhile Resident Technical Officers, located at various divisions of HAL, R & D establishments and Base Repair Depots (BRDs), are now renamed and rededicated as Regional Centres for Military Airworthiness (RCMA). These Regional Centres are brought under the umbrella of CEMILAC, for speedy and more effective airworthiness functions. There are fourteen RCMAs spread all over the Country to ensure airworthiness during design, manufacture and overhaul of aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, missiles and their systems.