Rajeev Chandrasekhar's official website - Member of Parliament

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Civil Aviation

 

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.494

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4/8/2011
Phasing out of Foreign Pilots

 

                                                             

 

 

 

494. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state: ·

 

 

 

(a)   Whether the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGC?A) has made public statements about phasing out foreign pilots from India by 2013;

 

(b)   if so, the implications on flight safety of passengers given the various instances of corruption/lacunae in pilot licensing In India;

 

(c)   whether the DGCA is responsible for ensuring flight safety and such procurement/policy falls under the scope of the Ministry; and

 

(d)   If so, the steps being taken by the OGCA for the safety of passengers and to ensure the credentials of pilots employed by the airline companies?

 

 

ANSWER
MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS & MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION
(SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)

 

 

 

(a)   Ministry of Civil Aviation has renewed Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization (FATA) policy and directed Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to consider grant of FATA up to 31st December, 2013 on case to case basis.

 

(b)   Guidelines have been issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to airlines to adopt effective training programmes for their Indian co· pilots for up-gradation to Pilot in Command positions to gradually phase out expatriate pilots and In the process creating employment opportunities for Indian pilots. The existing procedures in the Licensing Directorate of DGCA are strictly enforced. Result of DGCA examination submitted by the candidates are cross-verified with the Master result sheet from Central Examination Organization available with the Directorate of Licensing and in case of non­-availability of the result sheet, the papers are required to be sent to Central Examination Organization for verification.

 

(c)   Yes, Sir. Ensuring the flight safety is the responsibility of DGCA. Policies regarding validation of foreign licenses are_ however within the domain of Ministry of Civil Aviation and these powers have been delegated to DGCA till December, 2013.

 

(d)   DGCA has Issued Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section-7, Flight Crew Standards, Series 'G' Part-II dated 01 December, 2010 laying down the requirements and procedure for validation of foreign licenses. Foreign pilots are employed by the airline operators after validation of their foreign licenses by the DGCA. Compliance of CAR ensures that Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization (FATA) pilots are issued with Temporary authorization on the basis of adequate flying experience and currency of their foreign pilot licenses. The services of FATA pilots are utilized by Indian operators after ascertaining their proficiency and skills on the type of the aircraft to be operated by these pilots.

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