DGCA’s R S Passi influences an airline to employ his daughter
NEW DELHI: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which has come under scanner over the fake pilot licence issue, has stripped one of its top officials off his responsibilities following charges him of influencing an airline to employ his daughter, who had failed a pilot test.
DGCA sources said, Director Air Safety R S Passi, has been taken off his responsibilities.
Passi has neither been sacked nor suspended, said source.
“He is no longer dealing with air safety matters. Passi has been removed from his position in the air safety directorate,” sources added.
It was found during investigation into fake licence cases that Passi’s daughter Garima had not cleared a flight test in the US, but was working in an Indian carrier as the pilot. Garima had quit the airline last month.
DGCA has lodged 13 First Information Reports with the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch, after going through the documents of over 4,000 licences. While six of them relate to Airline Transport Pilots Licences (ATPLs), seven FIRs concern records of Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs).
There are about 4,000 ATPLs, while about 10,000 CPLs have been issued till date.
Government warned that those institutes found fudging records to grant pilots’ licences could be closed down immediately; three DGCA teams are currently auditing at least 40 flying schools across the country to keep track on.
