India proposes tougher foreign pilot licence rules

India's Directorate-General of Civil Aviation is proposing stricter norms, including a skills test on domestic aircraft and verification of a licence from the original country of issue, in an effort to make it harder for pilots with licences issued abroad to convert to Indian licences (thehindubusinessline.com, 02-Jun-2011). The airline watchdog was prompted to review policy after some 16 cases of pilots working with illegal licences were found across domestic carriers.

DGCA: "The fake licence issue was one of the things that prompted us, but we were looking to make changes anyway and put some safeguards. Earlier, a pilot had to only take two tests to convert a foreign licence into domestic one, but now the procedure will be far more rigorous. The rules should be finalised in a day or two." Director General EK Bharat Bhushan. Source: The Hindu Business Line, 02-Jun-2011.