Swissair Pilots cheated exams for years
The Neue Zuercher Zeitung reported on Sunday that Swissair pilots used to cheat at their APTL exams for years, until JAR came in force in 2000.
At least three Swissair pilots and one instructor confirmed that through the 90's the candidates received before the exam the list of questions together with the answers!
The Swiss Federal Bureau for civil aviation (BAZL/OFAC) knew of the pratice but never inquired and therefore never got a precise clue on the cheating. No action was ever taken.
To make things worth, when a Swissair pilot got under scrutiny for failing a simulatore tests, the company would look into the exams results to make up its mind!
As JAR came into force in 2000, with a random generated list of questions, 10% more candidates failed at the exam. This was obviously not enough to trigger an inquiry.
Many of the pilots who cheated at their exams are still flying for Swiss. The Chief Operating Officer of this company, Manfred Brennwald, confirmed the report of the Neue Zuercher Zeitung. He headed the SLS Pilots School between 92 and 95 and the Swissair Aviation School from 1998 to 2000.