Centre for entrance test for pilot courses

Aspiring pilots may have to appear for an entrance examination and clear group discussions to secure admissions in flying clubs. This is one idea the government is examining in the wake of the fake pilot scam.

The civil aviation ministry has constituted a six-member experts’ committee to suggest how to review training at flying clubs, ensure better surveillance of these institutes and cross-verify flying records of trainee pilots. The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation is already conducting audits of pilot training institutes. It has also verified licences. Online examinations for a commercial pilot licence is also on the cards.

The six-member panel, named last week, includes the director-general of civil aviation, Bharat Bhushan and the ministry’s joint secretary, Rohit Nandan. It will give its report in two months. The task is to examine the current training system and suggest how to make it credible and efficient, in line with modern practices such as a common entrance examination and psychological and aptitude tests for aspirants.