No malpractices in trainee pilots selection: Air India

Mumbai: Dismissing allegations of nepotism in recruitment of trainee pilots, a senior Air India official on Sunday said “there was no foul play” in the selection process.
“The vigilance inquiry has not found any wrong-doing in the selection process of pilots,” the official said. The entire selection process was on merit and no favouritism played any part in it, the official said.
Air India in February this year had advertised vacancies for trainee pilots and subsequently conducted a written test on April 12, which was followed by psychometric test and personal interviews.
Based on these tests and simulator/flight proficiency assessment check, the air-carrier selected 40 trainee pilots for appointment out of the 1,400 candidates who had applied. However, their selection got mired in a controversy following allegations of favouritism, forcing the then AI chairman and managing director Mr Bharat Bhushan to put the appointments on hold and order a vigilance enquiry.
31/05/09 PTI/The Hindu