The pilot training fraud detected at the Carver Aviation Academy in Baramati, Maharashtra and the admission by officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that a shortage of inspectors hampered frequent inspections have raised serious questions on the standards being maintained by private flight training institutes across the country.As reported by The Sunday Express, investigations by the Pune police and the DGCA have revealed that officials of the Carver Aviation Academy issued flight test certificates to 25 pilots last year by forging signatures and stamps of the Indian Air Force (IAF). What is alarming is that officials of the Academy and the DGCA privately admit such manipulations could be taking place at other flying institutes as well.With the Carver Aviation Academy being allowed to commence flying operations by the Ministry of Civil Aviation —despite the DGCA recommending cancellation of its licence — and the Pune police preparing a chargesheet, the 25 pilots are staring at an uncertain future with the DGCA proceeding to stamp “red warnings” on their licences.The DGCA conclusion that fake certificates were issued without the pilots undergoing flight tests is contradicted by initial police investigations. Pune’s Deputy Superintendent of Police S K Paropkari told The Indian Express that testimonies of the 16 pilots received so far indicate that they did undergo flight training in Baramati, were told to use pencils to fill log books and were handed fake certificates, allegedly by the Academy’s Chief Flight Instructor (CFI) Captain A Taxali.But in response to show cause notices issued by the DGCA, some pilots have confessed they were aware of the fraud and were told that this was the “general practice” at the Academy.This is what the pilots have admitted to the DGCA (their names are being withheld):• “The flight test was actually not carried out and I was given the Flight Test Report by Captain Taxali without actually undergoing flight test.”• “I did exactly as was directed by the CFI. When I protested, Captain Taxali insisted and pressurised me to log the same and told me it was the general practice at the Academy. As a student, I did not want to argue as I was afraid he would not pass me.”• “My checks were carried out on 13th-14th February, 2007. Captain Taxali told me to sign the Flight Authorisation Book in pencil as it was the school’s rule to fill it in pencil and I could not question his authority.”Records of the Carver Aviation Academy are being examined by the police and the DGCA. As part of the probe, the Pune police have also recovered the order placed by an Academy official for rubber stamps in the names of two non-existent IAF “Squadron Leaders” — these were used to stamp fake flight test certificates.DGCA officials say that a scrutiny of documents makes it evident that given their fuel consumption records and strength of instructors, the claim by Carver Aviation Academy of logging 19,000 flying hours annually “appears highly exaggerated”. The DGCA investigation report reveals that authorisation for the Academy had been suspended in June 2007 for unauthorised night-flying and that ground training certificates had previously been issued to students who had never undergone ground training.DGCA chief Kanu Gohain said the malpractices at the Baramati academy was a source of serious concern, especially with the suspicion of “over-logging” of flying hours being done by other flying institutes as well.Gohain told The Indian Express: “At the DGCA, we are hamstrung with a shortage of staff for regularly inspecting flight training schools. We need to further step up surveillance, the reason why we have now asked all training institutes to submit monthly reports of student flying hours, fuel purchased and fuel consumed.”It was now crucial, he said, for the “degree of blame” to be apportioned in the case given the fact that Carver Aviation Academy officials, in their testimonies to the DGCA, were simply passing the buck. “Worried parents of the 25 pilots have been contacting the Ministry and the DGCA and we too do not want their flying careers to be ruined,” he said. When The Indian Express contacted parents of the pilots, they said they had no comments to offer. “Even if the owners of the Carver Academy say these pilots never registered with them, the fact is that they have flown there. We do not want any more controversy. We want the skies to clear up for our boys,” said the mother of one of the pilots who paid Rs 3.2 lakh to the Carver Aviation Academy last year, only to be handed a fake flying certificate.What the DGCA recommended• Approval for Carver Aviation Academy and licence of Captain Taxali be immediately cancelled• Licences of “accused” student-pilots be suspended, they should undergo fresh flight tests• All flight training institutes should submit attested copies of authorisation books, log books, fuel registers of individual aircraft every month along with applications of students before approaching DGCA for a licence• Licensing unit of DGCA be strengthened to enhance surveillance, more inspections of flying training institutes
