DGCA official stripped of post

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stripped one of its top officials of his responsibilities following allegations that he had influenced an airline to employ his daughter. The official's daughter had reportedly failed the pilot's test.

Air Safety Director R S Passi had been relieved of his responsibilities, a senior DGCA official said, clarifying Passi had neither been sacked nor suspended. “Passi will not be dealing with air safety matters and has been removed from his position in the air safety directorate,” the official said.

During the probe into fake pilot licences, it was found though Passi's daughter had failed to clear a flight test abroad, she had been working as a pilot for an Indian carrier. She had, however, quit her job last month.

DGCA activities came under the scanner after three of its officials were arrested in the fake pilot licences case. Two of the arrested officials were junior executives, while one was a director-level official. After verifying 4,500 air transport pilots licences (ATPLs), the DGCA lodged 13 first information reports (FIRs) with the Delhi Police. While six of them are regarding ATPLs, seven FIRs are related to records of commercial pilot licences (CPLs).

A co-pilot is promoted to a commander;s post after securing an ATPL, while a person holding a CPL is only eligible for the post of a co-pilot.