Concerned over incidences of fake pilots coming to light, the UN aviation body International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has asked the Indian regulator to designate its own officials to certify flying experience of aspiring pilots. Currently, the chief flight instructors appointed by the flying clubs train, test and certify a candidate for commercial pilot licence (CPL) creating sufficient conflict of interest.
?The ICAO has written to DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) for doing away with this anomaly in the procedure,? an official source told FE. The DGCA regulates the domestic aviation sector and is the licensing authority for most of the aviation-related activities.
The official said the UN body has stressed for adopting the American model where officials from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certify the flying hours entered by the candidate in the log book. ?The official also conducts oral interviews,? the official said.
A retired DGCA official said the idea of adopting the American practice had been raised several times in the past but a section of officers deliberately avoided its implementation. When contacted former DGCA head Kanu Gohain said the current practice may be amended to authorise a competent person by the regulator to conduct examination before the issuance of CPL.
?A monopolistic situation has been created by the chief flight instructors. The DGCA should enhance its manpower strength to audit the flying clubs by checking fuel register and maintenance log book,? Gohain said.
Flying clubs, however, hold the regulating agency primarily responsible for prevalence of fraudulent methods of obtaining airlines transport pilot licence.
?Due to vested interests the DGCA has not made the licencing examination online. The manual process is the root cause of the problem. The examination system should be revamped immediately to ensure transparency,? Sarah Aviation director Akhileshwar Prasad said.
To become eligible for commercial pilot licence one is required to have undergone 200 hours of flying training. Besides this one has to clear tests in aviation meteorology, technical (general and specific), air regulation and air navigation to earn a CPL licence. While the CPL allows a person to work as co-pilot in a commercial airline the candidate has to fly 1500 hours to obtain airline transport pilot licence (ATPL). The flying clubs issue the CPL with the DGCA granting ATPL.
In the last few weeks several pilots have come under scanner for fudging flying hours and the DGCA has started verification of all the CPL and ATPL-holders. Industry experts widely believe that there is a nexus between the regulator and flying clubs ensuring the racket to thrive.
The Delhi police has already arrested a DGCA official for his alleged role in procuring licences fraudulently.
