Partiality to junior pilots could be costly for trainers

Mumbai: Training captains could lose their seniority badges and cap if they are found favouring junior pilots while testing their skills.
Taking cognisance of the rising instances of trainers being partial while assessing pilots, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has warned that guilty trainers would lose their privileges or be grounded for three years. A trainer’s post is the senior-most rank for a pilot. A trainer operates fewer flights and his primary responsibility is to train and test pilots at regular intervals to ensure flight safety.
Trainers usually occupy the jump seat (a foldable chair located behind the pilot’s seat) in the cockpit and monitor pilots in action. “Many commander and co-pilots are related to training captains. This sometimes leads to undue favouritism and shielding of errors during routine checks,” said a senior DGCA official requesting anonymity.
The circular has also directed training captains to be more disciplined. For instance, a training captain found drunk on duty would not be allowed to perform his role as a trainer for three years. A failure in assessing and reporting an error could also ground a trainer for three years.
14/06/10 Soubhik Mitra/Hindustan Times