Now, AI's chief trainer under govt scanner

New Delhi: Just months after finding serious issues with Air India Express COO, yet another of AI's expensive new hires has now come under the scanner of aviation authorities. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought the log book (that has a pilot's flying details) of AI's chief of training Stefan Sukumar for examination, after receiving complaints about him.
Also the aviation ministry has taken a serious note of AI sending Sukumar for training on Boeing 787 Dreamliner abroad while he hadn't been hired to be a pilot. On the other hand, said highly placed sources, this training slot should have been used for some full time pilot.
AI had recently applied for a foreign aircrew temporary authorisation (FATA, under which people holding foreign licences can fly in India) for Sukumar. "We want to look at his experience as some doubts have been raised," said a senior official. It may be recalled that AI Board had last year recommended the removal of AI Express COO Pawan Arora after finding discrepancies in his claims to get the job and now Sukumar is under the scanner. According to sources, Sukumar was appointed as advisor training but came to be known as chief of training.
10/02/11 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Air India Feb 2011