Saturday 26 March 2011

Centre to clip fake pilots' wings

The ministry of civil aviation is mooting stricter norms, including real time skill tests, for aspiring pilots before granting the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL).

Candidates approaching the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for their ATPL will be referred to accredited flying clubs where they will take a flying test under the supervision of qualified instructors and DGCA officials.

Tests will demand each candidate to prove certain skills and fulfill parameters being laid down by the civil aviation ministry following the fake licence episode that saw the country’s confidence in a new crop of aviators plummeting.

Top DGCA sources told Deccan Chronicle that the new terms will be soon announced. ``Skill tests will be made a must,” sources said. “Each candidate will have to prove flying skills to us on an aircraft and not in a simulator. Other procedures are also being reworked with a view to ensuring better transparency.” The DGCA’s decision stems from the revelation that many candidates fudge their course records to manage a licence.

“Many had not flown the stipulated hours,” said sources. “We are talking to all flying institutes in India and abroad and directing them to evolve a new audit mechanism that prevents anyone from tampering with records.” The possibility of creating digital logbook for each candidate is also being considered.


Get Chitika Premium






Sign up for PayPal and start accepting credit card payments instantly.






No comments:

Post a Comment