Government Considers Basic Skill Exams For Pilot Candidates

The Indian government has arrested two more people working as airline pilots who were flying on faked licences. Both submitted forged certificates when they obtained their commercial licenses, according to government anti-corruption official Umesh Mishra.

The Associated Press reports that at least four other pilots have been arrested for flying commercial airliners without the proper qualifications. The two most recently arrested were both flying for the low-cost carrier SpiceJet. The government has ordered a check of the qualifications of all pilots both Indian and foreign to be sure they actually have licenses to fly.

A report in the Times of India indicates that the government is considering tightening entrance requirements for the country's flight schools. The Aviation Ministry says it has plans to give potential students some kind of "common entrance exam" to assure that those who enter a flight training program are actually qualified to be there. The paper reports that the government wants the exam system implemented "as soon as possible," and that it also plans to closely scrutinize the credentials of those pilots working in India who attend flight schools in other countries.

FMI: http://civilaviation.nic.in/