Pilot caught flying with expired licence, suspended

New Delhi: In a case of serious oversight, pilot of a low cost carrier pilot was found operating flights even after his flying licence had expired. The reported lapse, which has serious legal implications for the airline and the pilot, has led to grounding of the pilot.
"A SpiceJet pilot with an expired licence which was yet to be renewed was found operating flights. His licence has been suspended and he will remain grounded for some time. The airline is equally to blame and has been warned. We found this during our monitoring,'' said a senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
While pilots are supposed to keep track of their validations and get them extended, airlines have to maintain computerized records of licence validation and medical records. This has to be done to ensure that only pilots who meet all requirements are assigned flight operations.
The airline claimed it detected the lapse and on its own and informed the DGCA. All airlines have an internal audit system to keep track of pilots' flying licence status but in this case the carrier found that a pilot's licence had expired a few days after that had happened.
18/04/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Safety Apr 2008, SpiceJet Apr 2008