Do background checks before hiring foreign pilots, DGCA told

The Air Line Pilots’ Association India (Alpai), a two-month-old body which has half the pilots in the country as its member, has taken up the matter of aviation safety seriously.

In a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Alpai suggested that foreign pilots’ in India be appointed only after a thorough check and only if they meet all air safety standards. It proposed certain amendments to DGCA’s recent draft civil aviation regulation for appointment of foreign pilots.

“You do not ask for competency, history of failures, remedial or corrective training received, and accident incident records with respect to the pilot being granted Fata [Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorisation],” the letter said.

It said DGCA should conduct background checks of these foreign pilots rather than depend on the airlines hiring them. “The responsibility of ensuring an incident/accident free record in respect of the pilot being hired should not be deferred to the operator or the individual pilot, but should be obtained by DGCA and should be made a part of the verification certificate issued by the contracting state regulatory body,” it said.