The Rajasthan anti-corruption bureau (ACB) has arrested two SpiceJet pilots for getting licence by allegedly misrepresenting the number of hours they have flown.
The ACB has said the two alleged offenders — Anuj Kumar Choudhary and Amit Mundra — were posted as captain and co-pilot, respectively.
There are three categories of pilots. The first is private pilot (captain), the second co-pilot (where one joins the cockpit on a commercial flight) and the third commander (the licence name for this level is air transport pilots licence).
The number of flying hours required for the first stage is 100, for the second 250, and for the third 4,500.
There are separate written tests for each of the three stages. Earlier this month two persons holding air transport pilots licence —one of IndiGo and the other of Air India — were held on grounds of forgery.
Acting on a list given by the ACB, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has cancelled the licence of seven other pilots also. They may be arrested.
Choudhary and Mundra had received their commercial pilot licence from the Rajasthan State Flying School (RSFS) in 2006.
{{/usCountry}}Choudhary and Mundra had received their commercial pilot licence from the Rajasthan State Flying School (RSFS) in 2006.
{{/usCountry}}The bureau had investigated the records of RSFS during the period 2005-2008 and found that 14 trainee pilots did not complete even half the specified flying hours for getting CPL.
There are about 40 flying schools in the country. In most cases they do not have the wherewithal to check the number of flying hours.