13 pilots, official get DGCA notice for skipping training

Objecting to 13 pilots of no-frills carrier GoAir not fulfilling the necessary training requirements, aviation regulator DGCA has issued show cause notices to them and a concerned airline official, official sources said today.
Following routine check of documents, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found that the 13 pilots of GoAir, some of whom had been on leave for a long period and consequently missed the periodic training programmes, were allowed to continue to fly.
They said there were cases like a pilot not flying for almost 14 months but being allowed by the airline to fly thereafter, without ensuring that this cockpit crew fulfilled the training requirements.

This not only amounted to violation of laid down rules which make it mandatory for the cockpit crew to undertake training courses every six months, a year or 18 months on a regular basis, but also affected flight safety, the sources said.
The pilots and the official have been given 30 day period to file their reply to the show cause notice and warned of ex-parte decision, including suspension of their flying licence, if they do not, the sources said.
Confirming having received the show cause notice from DGCA, an airline spokesperson said, "As per normal procedure we are entitled to appeal, highlighting the reasons why we believe we have not been disrespectful of any regulation.

"We have preliminarily and informally shared our views with DGCA. A meeting with the Authority is expected to take place within the end of this week and we are confident we can fully clarify our position," the spokesperson said when contacted.