Cameras to check logbook fudging by flying schools

MUMBAI: In a first-of-its-kind development, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to keep a virtual eye on all flying training institutes in the country to check malpractices. The DGCA has ordered flying schools to install cameras, at specified locations on their campuses, that send real-time data on the training activities to the regulator's Delhi headquarters. It means there will be cameras near the runways used for training aspiring pilots, in the aircraft parking hangars, the classrooms, etc. for the Big Brother to monitor.

In a first-of-its-kind development, the aviation regulator has decided to keep a virtual eye on the country's flying training institutes to check malpractices. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered flying schools to install cameras, at specified locations within its campuses, that send real time data on the training activities to the regulator's headquarters in Delhi. It means there will be cameras near the runways used for training pilot aspirants, in the aircraft parking hangars, the classrooms etc for the Big Brother to monitor.

Currently, India has 43 functional flying training institutes with a combined fleet of about 250 training aircraft and about 300 pilot aspirants on their rolls. The move comes more than a year after the fake pilot license scam broke out following which police cases were filed against at least 15 pilots and instructors. Among the issues investigated was the fraudulent logging of flying hours. It was found that instructors of some schools inflated the actual hours of flying training imparted to students by entering fake records of flights into their log books. So these students had undergone less than the mandatory 200 hours of flying training needed to apply for a Commercial Pilot License (the basic license needed for an airline job), though their records said otherwise.

Currently, India has a total of 43 functional flying training institutes with a combined fleet of about 250 training aircraft and about 300 pilot aspirants on their rolls. The revolutionary move comes more than a year after the fake pilot license scam broke out following which police cases were filed against at least 15 pilots and instructors. Among the issues investigated was the fraudulent logging of flying hours. It was found that instructors of some schools inflated the actual hours of flying training imparted to students by entering fake records of flights into their log books. So these students had undergone less than the mandatory 200 hours of flying training needed to apply for a Commercial Pilot License (the basic license needed for an airline job), though their records said otherwise.

The decision was announced at a meeting in Delhi on Thursday attended by DGCA Arun Mishra, DGCA director (flying training) Capt Yashraj Tongia and chief flying instructors. "The proposal received a positive response. Instructors too agreed that the move will increase transparency, keep them in the clear and transform the flying training industry," said an instructor who attended the meeting. Mishra was not available for comment.

"The policy will be implemented after the DGCA issues a circular to the effect. Schools that fail to adhere to this norm will stand to lose their operating license," a source said. Schools will save the camera recording data for a month.

The decision on cameras was announced in a meeting held in Delhi on Thursday attended by Director general of civil aviation, Arun Mishra, DGCA director, flying training, Capt Yashraj Tongia and chief flying instructors. The proposal received a positive response. Instructors too agreed that the move will increase transparency, keep them in the clear and transform the flying training industry,'' said an instructor who attended the meeting. The director-general was not available for comment. The policy will be implemented only after the regulator issues a circular to the effect. The schools that fail to adhere to this norm will stand to lose their operating license,'' the source added. The data from camera recordings will be saved by each school for the duration of a month.

Aviation sources said the virtual eye will act as a deterrent and discourage the practice of fake logging considerably.

Under the current system, the DGCA conducts an annual inspection of schools when they apply for license renewal. During the inspection, students' logbooks, aircraft logbooks, institute's flying records, etc are randomly

checked and often fake logging does not come to fore. "Now, the schools have been told to email their flying training done daily to DGCA. Moreover, with cameras too scanning the touch-down zone of the runway, faking flying records will not be easy,'' said another instructor. Classroom cameras will also be used for virtual learning as the DGCA plans to get experts from the airline industry to speak to students about various aspects of the industry.

Aviation sources said that the virtual eye will act as a deterrent and discourage the practice of fake logging considerably. Under the current system, the DGCA carries out an annual inspection of schools when they apply for renewal of their training license. During this inspection, students log books, aircraft log books, institute's flying records etc are randomly checked and often the cases of fake logging do not come to fore. Now the flying schools have been asked to email their flying training done daily to the DGCA. Moreover with cameras too scanning the touch-down zone of the runway, faking flying records will not be easy,'' said another instructor. The classroom cameras will also be used for virtual learning as the DGCA also has plans to get experts from the airline industry to speak to students about various aspects of the industry.

Apart from this, the director general spoke about the flying training checks carried out by chief flying instructors at the end of the course "All students pass the test, no one has ever failed."

Source:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com