Fake pilots scam points to need for detailed background checks

Mumbai: As the fake pilots scam gets bigger by the day, consulting firms, pilots fraternity and pilot training schools feel that thorough background srcutiny can avert recruitment of fake candidates in the industry. The scam came to light when over five pilots from various airlines were found cheating the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) with either fake mark-sheet or fraudulent flying licenses.
Says YN Sharma, CEO of Bhopal-based Chimes Aviation Academy, “Sheer ignorance from recruiters and regulatory authority leads to such circumstances. Against the backdrop of five pilots being exposed with fake certificates, it is very crucial for the DGCA to dwell deeper and understand the education and employment history of the candidate.” Stressing the three level checking on the candidates eligibility, Sharma says, “First, whenever a candidate logs his documents with the DGCA, the authority should go to the flying school to check his/her flying hours and the actual fuel consumption by the student, just to match flying hours with actual fuel usage while being trained.” The second aspect, says he, is checking the credibility of flying schools as there may be many flying schools which issue passing certificates to ineligible students. And finally, if a student has done his flying hours abroad, the DGCA has to check with the aviation authorities in the respective country to get an accurate information about the school and the student.
According to E Balaji, director and president, Ma Foi Management Consultants Ltd, “A stringent checking is not possible unless the employer has access to DGCA database rather than just relying on the documents produced by the employee.” The awareness has increased but it is confined to roles at senior positions. As background check is an expensive process it is done only at very senior level in India especially in the banking, financial services and investment banking sectors where the frauds are high and damages are sensitive.
Experts say, unfortunately, unlike in the West, background checks are not an imperative part of the recruitment process in India.
21/03/11 Smita Joshi Saha, Shaheen Mansuri/Financial Times

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Mar 2011