Your pilot may have bought his license

Mumbai: In a shocking case that has grave ramifications for safety, a chief flying instructor (CFI)allegedly cleared 25 aspiring pilots without conducting the mandatory flying checks that test their competence.
The students, who have trained abroad, approached Capt Ashim Taxali, former CFI of the Academy of Carver Aviation, Baramati, for licence conversion. Students with foreign CPLs need Indian certification to Indian ones to get employed with airlines in the country. The licence conversion process includes taking theory exams and clearing practical flying checks, which can be conducted by any directorate general of civil aviation-certified CFI.
According to the FIR filed by Mark Carvalho, chairman of Carver Aviation, on October 27 at Baramati taluka police station, Taxali certified the students eligible for Indian CPLs without so much as making them sit in an aircraft.
“He allegedly charged them about Rs 3 lakh each and signed on their flight log books stating that he used aircraft belonging to Carver Aviation from Pune airport for checks,” says assistant police inspector K T Pingle. “But Carver Aviation claims its aircraft were never used. We are investigating the allegations but Capt Taxali is absconding. He has apparently applied for bail.” Taxali was not available for comment.
The matter also brings into question another issue — whether the signatures of air traffic control officers of Pune airport were forged or whether they colluded with the CFI and students in the fraud.
06/11/07 Manju V/Times of India