Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has found fault with almost all the 40 flying schools in the country, issued notices to over 20 of them giving them a 30-day deadline to comply with regulations.
One school in Bermi, Rajasthan has been asked to shut down due to gross non-compliance. One of the country’s oldest flying clubs, the Bombay Flying Club, has been allowed to conditionally restart operations even as the DGCA continues to keep it under strict watch.
“None of the 40 flying schools in India were following rules. They would be either logging false flying hours or they lacked adequate infrastructure to train pilots. We have given each school 30 days to fall in line otherwise their licenses would be suspended,” DGCA EK Bharatbhushan said on Monday.
During the audit of these schools, DGCA took the help of ATC concerned on whether a particular club really allowed candidates some real flying experience and the results were then matched with log book of candidates.
Earlier this year, the regulator began a comprehensive audit of all flying schools in the country after some were found fudging their logbook entries to help candidates get licences. Many pilots were arrested for using forged mark sheets and fudging flying hours to get licences. Thereafter, the DGCA set on overhauling the entire pilot licensing process by computerizing the process of examination and documentation. The first online pilot exams would be held this November.
Also, the DGCA decided not to take the licences issued by foreign flying schools at face value but cross check with the local regulator of each issuing country to authenticate the certification, flying hours and other documentation of a foreign licence holder.
Already, all pilot licenses obtained from Manila in Philippines have been cancelled accordingly. There are about 4,500 pilots working in India, 1,500 of them commanders and 500 expatriates.
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