Any pilot, foreign or Indian, who acquires his or her pilot licence abroad will soon have to undergo a “skill test” for “conversion to an Indian licence”, rules to be declared soon by the DGCA state. The proposed rules also state, “The DGCA will, before converting any foreign licence to Indian licence, verify the authenticity of the foreign
licence from its issuing authority.” In another important move aimed at removing any chances of fraud in view of the recent fake pilot scam, the DGCA will begin the process of online Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) exam in July this year at Delhi and certain other exam centres. The online exams are being started to eliminate any chance of forgery of pilot exam result marksheets which had been detected in a few cases recently. Online exams will also be extended for those acquiring a commercial pilot licence.
Those who want to proceed for flying training abroad for endorsement on smaller aircraft have to pass the requisite examinations in India before a no-objection certificate is issued by the DGCA. The DGCA is also issuing rules for further improvements in the licensing system. Installation of close circuit TV (CCTVs) at “strategic locations in the DGCA” has been mooted to check any malpractice. Before issue of licence, the verification process of exam results from the DGCA’s exam wing will be made mandatory. The DGCA is also exploring the possibility of digitisation of pilot log records and maintaining registry of pilots to remove any chance of malpractice in flying schools.