JG,Agent 123,Pree 56
Can You Help a fellow Pilot
I have recently applied for the Indian DGCA licence based on my Foreign Licence.I passed the conversion exam Reg and composite,did my Indian Class 1 medical and all the requirements according to the DGCA CAR for the Licence conversion.
I have been told by the DGCA that I cant get the Indian licence because the Indian licence is only issued for Indian nationals who has an Indian passport.I can only apply under FATA and the new rules on FATA from month of December 2010.
I was born in India in the 1970s and did start my flying career in India in 1990 and had cleared all the exams medical RTR in the 1990. Like many other Indian families I also migrated to the west .I completed my CPL in mid 1990 and have been flying commercially since. As years passed and in my adopted country I became a citizen.I has to surrender my Indian Passport to the consulate. In Late 2006 I got an offer to come and work in India as an expat Co Pilot .I did the interview, Sim, written exams etc and I started to work for an airline till early 2009.
Then in 2009 my company asked me to get the Indian Licence If I want to work with them. I started to prepare for the exams and passed all the written exams, Medical, RTR,.I was given the DGCA check list for the Indian Licence requirements.
I was flying the Airbus from 2007. So I took time to go and get all the flying done on the C172,PA34 etc (like the 120nm,250nm,300nm,Day/Night Checks ,IR checks,)
After completing all the requirements and when I submitted the paperwork I was informed by DGCA that having OCI does not mean that you will be considered as an Indian citizen. Its a big misunderstanding in the aviation industry and DGCA is making it very clear to applicants.
I have heard from people that many have got lndian DGCA licences in the past through contacts .even though they dont have an Indian passport.
I was able to write the exams because I had a computer number issued in 1991.So when I applied for the exams I did not have any issue.
I have been working in commercial aviation for the past 14 years.Now that the airlines in India have made it a norm to have Indian licence for First officers to work.
Now the problem is that I dont have an Indian passport But I have an OCI.
According to DGCA OCI is not like an Indian passport and I also had to agree to that when i spoke to the DGCA because
OCI = overseas Citizen of India .
DGCA has blindly said that they are happy to issue me a licence But Not the Indian ALTP/CPL only FATA Because according to them I am a foreigner even though I was born in India and also hold an OCI I still dont have an Indian Passport.
Now to get an Indian Passport for an OCI it takes 5 years after the issue of OCI out of that 5 years you have to be in India for 1 year and the other formalities as per the application process that means 2012.
Now by the time the passed papers all would have expired ( DG said its now 5 years) and also the medical.
I know many of you have heard or know people who have done it they must have had heavy contact at higher level.
I am an ordinary citizen just coming from the street so dont have anyone up at higher levels.The only thing I have is a clear record in flying and have passed all the exams studying hard.
I have spend a lot of money to go back and get flying done in the C172,PA34,A320 and at least 9000US$.
Only to be told by the DGCA that sorry Indian Licence cant be issued.
If anyone could PM me with the contact of guys who have done it would be very helpful.
The information I have directly came form the DG himself.He sounds very nice fair person.He has told me that there is no provision in the current CAR where he can issue me an Indian Licence.
These were his words Quote " To be issued an Indian Licence you should have an Indian Passport.Indian Licence is issued for Indian Nationals only.The only Licence we can issue is FATA which we issue for foreign nationals.Also there has been new rule changes on FATA few days back"
So this is coming from the DG himself and I dont have any other choice.he says that OCI is not an Indian Passport .
I agree with many of the comments from I believe you are correct. As of this day there is no Dual Citizenship.When you get a citizenship of another country you have to surrender the Indian passport.
I also spoke to my company they say sorry they cant do much .so thats pretty much to it so far.
I don’t want to give up as I have the experience and I can continue to be a part of the Indian aviation growth. If I had the same opportunity in 1990s I would not had to leave India then. Like many Indians who has gone overseas to work and the experience they bring back would be good to the Indian aviation future. If they could come and work back in India I know many would take that opportunity. I am one of them.
So Please feel free to post comments and suggestions.