PRIME Minister Imran Khan can play an important role in the development and revival of the PIA if we can get rid of the fake licence issues. For this we can also get help from large foreign organizations which are already implementing comprehensive programmes for the preparation and training of pilots.

In reality Airline Transport Pilots Licence (ATPL) does not comprise a theory exam only; it is earned on the basis of four competencies, which are: one, aviation medical assessment by a board of flight physiologists, two, successful completion of 1, 500 actual flight hours as a pilot on a Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL), three, 16 subjects’ theory exams compressed into eight exams in Pakistan, and, four, Flight checks for the issuance of ATPL

I will recommend the following steps: we must identify heinous and sadist people and isolate them from the aviation sector. We must also acquire an expensive, licensed and certified ATPL/CPL courseware which includes not only testing platforms but also mandatory computer-based training (CBT) theory ground classes with accredited hours towards examinations.

An international, specialised company like CAE Pelesys, FAA CPL/ATPL Ground Studies or Bristol may be contacted for this. Exclude all the pilots from the “suspicious bloated list”.

As per PCAA rules if the data of a few individuals cannot be found or confirmed they may be asked to reappear. We must also purchase a certified and approved Safety Management System (SMS) reporting from Airbus or equivalent that will effectively resolve the issue.

Captain (r) Sheikh Munawwar Javaid
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2020