Carver Aviation!!
What do you need to get an Indian Commercial Pilot Licence? If an FIR filed last week against a chief flying instructor is any indication, the only requisite is loads of cash. In a shocking case that has grave ramifications for safety, a CFI allegedly cleared 25 aspiring pilots without conducting the mandatory flying checks that test their competence.
The students, who have trained abroad, approached Capt Ashim Taxali, former CFI of the Academy of Carver Aviation, Baramati, for licence conversion. Students with foreign CPLs need Indian certification to Indian ones to get employed with airlines in the country. The licence conversion process includes taking theory exams and clearing practical flying checks, which can be conducted by any directorate general of civil aviation-certified CFI.
According to the FIR filed by Mark Carvalho, chairman of Carver Aviation, on October 27 at Baramati taluka police station, Taxali certified the students eligible for Indian CPLs without so much as making them sit in an aircraft.
"He allegedly charged them about Rs 3 lakh each and signed on their flight log books stating that he used aircraft belonging to Carver Aviation from Pune airport for checks," says assistant police inspector K T Pingle. "But Carver Aviation claims its aircraft were never used. We are investigating the allegations but Capt Taxali is absconding. He has apparently applied for bail." Taxali was not available for comment.
The matter also brings into question another issue — whether the signatures of air traffic control officers of Pune airport were forged or whether they colluded with the CFI and students in the fraud.
A licence conversion check involves a day-flying check, night check and instrument-rating check where the student is graded in a number of flying jobs like pre-flight checks, taxiing, take-off and steep turns.
"It is very significant as the authenticity of entries in the student’s flight log books are never verified by DGCA," said an instructor. "These checks are the only means of knowing whether the student has actually taken any flying training and whether he/she knows to fly."
This has always been in Marc's knowledge, the question is why now!!!