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The DGCA, in its order, also “warned” the senior pilot to adhere to the regulatory compliance and regulatory standards in future
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) cancelled a skill test of a trainee pilot conducted by the designated examiner and ordered a retest.
India’s aviation safety watchdog has withdrawn its approval of a senior Akasa Air pilot as an official examiner following procedural violations during a pilot skill assessment.
In an order dated July 29, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the examiner’s approval has been withdrawn for six months after reviewing a report submitted by Akasa Air’s Director of Training.
Following this, the regulator also invalidated the skill test of a trainee pilot conducted by the examiner and ordered a retest under the supervision of a type-rated flight operations inspector.
Designated Examiners (DEs) are authorised to conduct critical evaluations- including proficiency checks and licensing assessments- to ensure that pilots meet the required competency standards. The role is considered a key pillar in the aviation safety ecosystem.
In addition to the suspension, the DGCA also issued a formal warning to the senior pilot, urging strict adherence to regulatory procedures.
Following regulatory and safety guidelines, Akasa Air’s director of training reported the matter to the DGCA.
Akasa Air Reacts
In a statement, Akasa Air Spokesperson said: “Keeping safety in mind is of utmost priority at Akasa. Each Designated Examiner (DE) and every other employee of the company upholds this standard in its highest form at all times. The primary objective of any Designated Examiner at Akasa is to ensure that all trainings and assessments are professional and meet prescribed regulatory and safety standards without any fear of passing unsatisfactory candidates.”
(With PTI inputs)
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
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