Question : PILOTS FLYING WITH LAPSED LICENCES .

(a) the details of mandatory norms/guidelines for validation of pilots licences in the country;

(b) whether it has come to the notice of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that a large number of pilots of public and private airlines have been flying without clearing a mandatory test that helps keep their licences valid.

(c) if so, the details thereof, airline-wise along with the reasons therefor and the action taken by DGCA in this regard;

(d) whether certain cases of obtaining pilot licences by producing fake documents have also come to the notice of DGCA during the last three years and the current year; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by DGCA in these cases and the steps taken or being taken by DGCA to ensure safety of air passengers?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Dr. Mahesh Sharma)

(a) Mandatory norms/guidelines for validation of pilot licences in the Country are stipulated in Schedule-II of Aircraft Rules, 1937/ Civil Aviation Requirements under Section-7.;

(b) and (c) Yes Madam, a total of 320 such cases have come to the notice of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The number of pilots who exceeded the validity of mandatory test in Air India, Spicejet, Indigo, Air India Express and Jet Airways was 101, 10, 9, 70 and 130 respectively. ;

For these violations, enforcement actions have been taken by DGCA including suspension of privileges of the licences and issue of warning letters. ;

(d) to (e) During last three years, 19 (Nineteen) cases related to fake flying hours of trainee pilots by Chief Flying Instructor of Rajasthan Flying School Jaipur and 17

(seventeen) cases in which pilots have obtained licences on the basis of fake CEO mark sheet have been found.;In the current year, no such cases has come to the notice of DGCA.

Action taken by DGCA in above referred cases is as follows:

(i) Cases related to fake flying hours of trainee pilots by Chief Flying Instructor of Rajasthan Flying School Jaipur are being investigated by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), Rajasthan. Licences of 16 pilots are suspended and suspension of licneses of 3 pilots was revoked based on the investigation of ACB, Rajasthan

(ii) In cases related to fake result sheet, licences of 15 pilots were suspended, in remaining two cases, the trainee pilots were debarred to obtain Indian License. These cases have been handed over to Delhi Police for further investigation.

DGCA has taken following Steps to avoid forgery to obtain Pilot Licences:-

(i) DGCA now cross verifies the authenticity of the result from the examination division of DGCA.

(ii) For conversion of foreign licenses into Indian Licences, the licences are being verified from the concerned regulatory authority of the State issuing the foreign licenses.

(iii) The skill test on the aircraft required to be endorsed have to be done in India in addition to the flying test done abroad.