"We will be introducing a computer-based examination,’’ Director General
Bharat Bhushan told Business Standard without giving a time frame for
the launch of the new format. A DGCA-appointed committee comprising its
officers and senior pilots is already working on the reform process.
DGCA sources confirmed that the new system may be in place this July.
"The present syllabus for CPL papers is not well defined and this
confuses the students. Unlike the United States there are no question
banks for reference. So students are left clueless about what to expect
in the examination,’’ a DGCA official told Business Standard. At
present, pilot aspirants are not allowed to take home the question
papers from the examination hall.Keeping in line with international standards, the DGCA will also publish a detailed question bank for all the technical papers.Also, so far the syllabus and question papers were framed only by
technical officers from the DGCA. Now, this process is set to change,
and pilots will also be part of the panel framing the question papers.
The committee has studied the syllabi followed in European countries and
submitted its report. It has also prepared a question bank comprising
of over 5,000 questions which will be relevant to the Indian context.
"The aim is to make the examination process fair and transparent and
bring it in line with international standards,’’ the official added.Apart from the reforms in the selection process, the regulator is also
verifying the records of 4,500 pilot licences and will begin audit of
flying schools.The DGCA holds written examinations for CPL and airline transport pilot
licence (ATPL) four times a year. Candidates can appear for one or all
the papers on air regulation, air navigation, meteorology, technical
(general) and technical (specific). Candidates require 70 per cent marks
to pass in each paper. Past results suggest that the failure rates are
very high. In April 2010, less than two per cent candidates cleared the
air navigation examination, co-pilot becomes a commander after getting
the ATPL and a person with CPL can fly a plane as a co-pilot. There are
about 4,500 ATPLs, while about 10,000 CPLs have been issued till date.
21/04/11 Aneesh Phadnis
/Business Standard
Mumbai : The fake pilot
scam, where fourteen persons were arrested, including six pilots and
three Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officers, has
prompted the aviation regulator to consider a change in the format of
the commercial pilots licence (CPL) examination.
Come July, the civil aviation regulator will do away with the
paper-pencil test and make way for a computer-based commercial pilots
licence examination. DGCA, as part of the exercise to overhaul the
commercial pilots licence (CPL) examination, will also update the
syllabus and remove anomalies.
