Fake Sri Lankan Airlines Captain
Join Date: May 2008
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What I find more worrying is the fact that these people obviously are capable of slipping through the mazes of the net!We have seen several here in QR ( but they where caught after some time), UL has this problem and for sure many many more airlines are facing this as well!
I know becoming a commander takes a bit of luck of being at the right time at the right place. I know, myself I had to wait many many years, but in the end you will get it.
If patience does not work or if you fail somewhere, maybe the problem lays with the person in question! So what, take the beating and live a happy life as FO. Not everybody is made to be a commander after all!
But these guys they have a severe psychological problem. They can not stand the fact that they might not have the capabilities and they hate it when somebody can give them orders!
So they will go to enormeous amounts of energy to prove to the world that they can do it!
GB....thats a story on himself!
Came to QR as an FO on A320. His background, as he was telling everybody, was German Airforce
He was given a shot at his command, but failed miserably!
Continued to fly as FO. But the decision was made here to have the FOs wearing two stripes, untill you pass 3 years on line, after which you got 3 bars! No big deal you would say?
Well it was for GB, the poor guy was so frustrated he started putting his old 3 bar epaulettes in his front pocket while wearing the mandatory 2 bar thinghies, just so everybody could see he actually did have 3 at a time!
He was given a second shot at command and yes...he failed miserably again!
At this stage he left. Told everybody he was hired as a skipper on 340!
Some crew bumped into him in china, where he was sitting in the airport in his captains'pyjamas, telling crew he was CApt on a VIP 340!
And now this UL story!
This guy is known everywhere and still he is playing his old tricks. I hope he realises the legal consequences of this and the disaster he could have caused in case anything would have gone wrong!
The insurance companies would have had a ball with his case, and the victims would have received NOTHING! UL would have gone bankrupt most probably!
People like this are sick and irresponsible! They should be thrown in jail ASAP.
I know a couple of people like this actually, maybe we should make lists of them iso focussing on SCABS!
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: middleast
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P.Clostermann. i do confirm all the fact you mentioned are 100% exact.!
Sorry but This guy screwed himself the first day he joined Qatar Airways by his Arrogant and racist attitude...
Examples are endless.
Yes he is sick..
Loc.
Sorry but This guy screwed himself the first day he joined Qatar Airways by his Arrogant and racist attitude...
Examples are endless.
Yes he is sick..
Loc.
Join Date: Aug 2008
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flying as a cptain
we had in italy a few years ago a german flying as a captain for 8 months he was only found out when a training captain from his previous airlina asked the opps director how f/o .... was he was fired immediately
Join Date: Dec 2005
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This is not a new thing. It is worse since Jar and the willingness of some authorities to validate at the drop of a hat. Ire,Holland, anywhere there isa large leasing business or indeed a large loco business!!!!
The back door is wide open. The last line of defence is robust recruiting.
I know of a few confirmed fakers in the uk that got as far as left seat trg but were flushed out during training. Much more difficult during the national licence days. If the back door is wide open in europe , its been flapping in the breeze for a long time in icao land...read ME and Far east as mentioned here.
The back door is wide open. The last line of defence is robust recruiting.
I know of a few confirmed fakers in the uk that got as far as left seat trg but were flushed out during training. Much more difficult during the national licence days. If the back door is wide open in europe , its been flapping in the breeze for a long time in icao land...read ME and Far east as mentioned here.
Join Date: Dec 2001
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I know its a long time ago ........but does anyone remember the 707 pilot dubbed the
I seem to remember that he collected the approach lights on departure from Bristol and the a/c registration changed when it landed in the Middle East!
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Legal and insurance issues
I am no legal eagle; can the experts tell me if it is within the rights of insurance companies to deny payment in case they investigate and find that the skipper involved in a major prang has dodgy credentials?
It scares me that Korean Air takes such a laissez-faire attitude in recruitment.
It scares me that Korean Air takes such a laissez-faire attitude in recruitment.
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There is another one out there flying the E170, started in Saudia, didnt pass the training, never went on the line, then went to Paramount India as an E170 INSTRUCTOR, now believe he is in Jordan.........
He even went as far as advertising himself on the web.....
Mutt
He even went as far as advertising himself on the web.....
Mutt
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Fake Sri Lankan Airlines Captain
In the last couple of years I have had 2 occassions when people have applied for vacant Captains positions. Investigations have shown that they they were First Officers. As there will always be people trying to buck the system it the responsibility of the prospective employer to check all candidates credentials before employing new crew.
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Another one caught
It happens again and again. I was told by a mate that they had a guy caught at QR a few years ago, I think it was also a German chap. I think the CAA of the respective homecountry should pull their ATPL license for good, thats the only way to stop these conartists. 
Join Date: Dec 2002
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It is not surprising that this is happening in this day and age. Some people feel that the world owes them something and will do everything and anything to get it, even if their goal is short lived.
With the amount of company FOM's, aircraft manuals floating around and companies offering sim sessions it's not hard to believe that someone with previous experience can fake it. It is very questionable that the training staff did not pick this up in the beginning and it was not until 10 months later that an FO finally noticed that he was "not comfortable in the left seat". Would have thought that after 10 months he would have gotten "comfortable" enough to use his right hand to program things etc...
With the amount of company FOM's, aircraft manuals floating around and companies offering sim sessions it's not hard to believe that someone with previous experience can fake it. It is very questionable that the training staff did not pick this up in the beginning and it was not until 10 months later that an FO finally noticed that he was "not comfortable in the left seat". Would have thought that after 10 months he would have gotten "comfortable" enough to use his right hand to program things etc...
Join Date: Jul 2006
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It happened to another german guy recently in europe, last year.. he was flying on contract for iberworld based in germany and he pretended they were provinding an upgrade to the left hand seat.. then one day, on his own he presented himself on duty with a four stripes uniform informing the captain he was allowed by the company to start his training, the captain who was an istructor seated on the right seat trusting the copilot's words.(incredible!)
After a while the story came out and he was fired.
Then Sigmar aviation called one of the captains working for the same contract asking credentials for the this guy, because he was applying as captain with 700 hours logged!!
it is a long story but it came out that the same guy had be working for vueling as well, earlier ,a couple of weeks as captain before being catched and fired. I think the german DGAC should revoke his license once for all!!
After a while the story came out and he was fired.
Then Sigmar aviation called one of the captains working for the same contract asking credentials for the this guy, because he was applying as captain with 700 hours logged!!
it is a long story but it came out that the same guy had be working for vueling as well, earlier ,a couple of weeks as captain before being catched and fired. I think the german DGAC should revoke his license once for all!!
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we had in italy a few years ago a german flying as a captain for 8 months he was only found out when a training captain from his previous airlina asked the opps director how f/o .... was he was fired immediately
@timmya320,
well, that's not the whole truth you are telling.
I know what guy you are talking about - as well as I know people from the company he was working for before. Not everyone is as sure as you are about his "faults", neither in Italy nor in Germany.
He is working for this former company again and in meantime he went again through upgrading. He is now flying as cpt without any problems in this company. Obviously it couldn't be that bad...
@timmya320,
well, that's not the whole truth you are telling.
I know what guy you are talking about - as well as I know people from the company he was working for before. Not everyone is as sure as you are about his "faults", neither in Italy nor in Germany.
He is working for this former company again and in meantime he went again through upgrading. He is now flying as cpt without any problems in this company. Obviously it couldn't be that bad...
Last edited by tamie; 5th Aug 2008 at 17:24.
Join Date: Jun 2007
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UL response.
The airline says:
“SriLankan Airlines wishes to state that the safety of our passengers was never compromised, even to the slightest degree. The pilot in question is in fact a qualified Captain. At the time of his recruitment as a Captain on the Airbus A330, he, to date, holds a valid Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Federal Republic of Germany, which endorsed his rating as a Captain on the A340, A330 and A320 aircraft. This licence is issued in accordance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the global governing body of the industry.
“Indeed, in many other airlines he would have been recruited as a Captain on the strength of his experience and qualifications. However, SriLankan Airlines sets a very high standard for its pilots, which requires that a direct entry Captain possesses a minimum of 1,000 hours of flying as a Captain, in addition to other requirements such as a minimum of 4,500 hours of flying as a First Officer prior to becoming a Captain.
“It was discovered on July 22, 2008 that this Captain had misrepresented that he had been a Captain at another major international airline in order to satisfy the requirement of 1,000 required hours as a Captain. He had done so by providing a falsified letter to SriLankan Airlines.
“Accordingly, SriLankan Airlines held an inquiry the very next day and dismissed the pilot from service on July24.
“The correct situation is that SriLankan Airlines immediately reported the matter to the Police Department with full disclosure and lodged a formal complaint on July 26 at the Katunayake Police Station. We understand that the Police are now taking further action about the falsification of documents.
“In addition, the airline also provided a full report to the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, and the Ministry of Aviation, for further action.
“The airline did not claim money from the pilot But he was asked to repay costs of his training, which he settled in full. The paramount concerns of the National Carrier remain to ensure safety of passengers and to maintain the high standards of integrity and trustworthiness of its employees, especially those in key positions.
“SriLankan Airlines wishes to state that the safety of our passengers was never compromised, even to the slightest degree. The pilot in question is in fact a qualified Captain. At the time of his recruitment as a Captain on the Airbus A330, he, to date, holds a valid Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Federal Republic of Germany, which endorsed his rating as a Captain on the A340, A330 and A320 aircraft. This licence is issued in accordance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the global governing body of the industry.
“Indeed, in many other airlines he would have been recruited as a Captain on the strength of his experience and qualifications. However, SriLankan Airlines sets a very high standard for its pilots, which requires that a direct entry Captain possesses a minimum of 1,000 hours of flying as a Captain, in addition to other requirements such as a minimum of 4,500 hours of flying as a First Officer prior to becoming a Captain.
“It was discovered on July 22, 2008 that this Captain had misrepresented that he had been a Captain at another major international airline in order to satisfy the requirement of 1,000 required hours as a Captain. He had done so by providing a falsified letter to SriLankan Airlines.
“Accordingly, SriLankan Airlines held an inquiry the very next day and dismissed the pilot from service on July24.
“The correct situation is that SriLankan Airlines immediately reported the matter to the Police Department with full disclosure and lodged a formal complaint on July 26 at the Katunayake Police Station. We understand that the Police are now taking further action about the falsification of documents.
“In addition, the airline also provided a full report to the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, and the Ministry of Aviation, for further action.
“The airline did not claim money from the pilot But he was asked to repay costs of his training, which he settled in full. The paramount concerns of the National Carrier remain to ensure safety of passengers and to maintain the high standards of integrity and trustworthiness of its employees, especially those in key positions.
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Safety not compromised? Well........
If I am an insurance lawyer, if that said " fake " is involved in a fatal prang I will certainly dig up everything on his background to ensure that nothing is paid out by my client to cover the pax on this airline! The lawyers are going to have a field day savaging the airline.........the biggest losers will be the pax who do travel on this airline. The other losers will be the other employees who will see this airline shutdown...the litigation involved will see to it!
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insurance
Well, I got to agree.
While there is a question of safety compromised or not, can you give me a view on this ?
1) the pilot was qualified
2) had current certification
3) medically fit
4) had more than sufficient hours
5) internationally qualified and has worked as PIC
The exception was he did not meet UL's flying hours required to be PIC.
Would the insurance payout be denied ? A rhetorical question, and academic one at that.
Thanks
While there is a question of safety compromised or not, can you give me a view on this ?
1) the pilot was qualified
2) had current certification
3) medically fit
4) had more than sufficient hours
5) internationally qualified and has worked as PIC
The exception was he did not meet UL's flying hours required to be PIC.
Would the insurance payout be denied ? A rhetorical question, and academic one at that.
Thanks