CAA tells SC about 262 suspected pilots: Unauthorised access made to computerized exam

ISLAMABAD: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has informed the apex court that 262 suspected pilots grounded have made unauthorised access to the CAA's computerised technical examination for pilot licensing.

Of the 262 grounded pilots 141 are from the PIA, 10 Serene Air, and nine from Airblue.

102 other pilots are not employed by the PIA, Serene or Airblue.

The CAA Director General, Hassan Nasir Jamy, in pursuance of the apex court's direction, on Saturday submitted a report about pilots.

A five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, while hearing a suo motu case on government steps regarding coronavirus pandemic ordered the CAA to respond to a question about total number of pilot licenses; total number of pilots in employment of the PIACL; verification of degree/certificate for licences; lists of pilots founds with fake degree/certificate and licenses, and the CAA actions.

According to the report, the number of total valid licences issued is 1,934.

The PIACL total valid licences are 450, out of that commercial pilot licences are 222 and air transport pilot licences 228.

In case of Serene, total licences are 47, out of which 18 are commercial pilot licences, and the number of air transport pilot licences is 29.

The number of valid licences issued to Airblue is 87.

Out of which, 31 are commercial pilot licences and 56 are air transport pilot licences.

The others (not including PIA, Serene and Airblue) are 817 commercial pilot licences and 533 are air transport licences.

The report said, in order to implement the direction of the Supreme Court in HRC No.8645/2018, the CAA requested the Aviation Division to constitute a Board of Inquiry (BOI) to conduct internal forensic audit of the CAA's computerised technical examination of pilots.

As a result of that the BOI identified 262 suspected pilots (including 54 pilots earlier suspended by the CAA) who have made unauthorised access to the CAA computerised technical examination system.

The report stated that procedural irregularities highlighted by the BOI relates to: pilots have not attempted papers on a scheduled date; pilots have not attempted papers on a scheduled time; the CAA examination server has been accessed from a different IP address; the CAA examination server has been accessed by creating different user name and password; and pilot flight logbook shows that on the scheduled date of paper pilot(s) were operating flight.

The report submitted that to ensure due process, the CAA is re-verifying the credentials of 208 suspected pilots who have already been grounded vide an Aviation Division letter No.11-4/2019-CAA dated 26-06-2020 before issuance of suspension orders under Rule 342(2) of the Civil Aviation Authority Rules, 1994.

It submitted that the BOI during the forensic audit have not confronted the 262 suspected pilots with the incriminating evidence against them, in order to ensure due process of law, the suspected pilots are being provided with a right to appeal in the suspension orders.

The reply stated that the BOI report provides a complete list of 262 pilots who have made "unauthorized" access to CAA's computerised technical examination system for pilot licensing.

The CAA said that a summary forwarded to the federal cabinet for cancellation of licenses of 28 out of 54 pilots, who have earlier been suspended in exercise of powers under Rule 342 of the Civil Aviation Authority Rules, 1994.

It also informed that out of 208 remaining suspected pilots, 34 have been issued suspension order with a right of appeal under Rule 342 of the CAA Rules, before forwarding the summary to the federal government for cancellation of their licenses.

The CAA also submitted that as per the direction of the Supreme Court in HRC 8645/2018, the Authority had undertaken the process for re-verification of certificate/degree of all pilots/cockpit crew holding commercial pilot licences (CPL) and airline transport pilot license (ATPL).

The process of re-verification of degree/certificate of pilots/cabin crew was completed on 09-01-2019 and 16 pilots were identified with fake educational certificates.

Out of the list of 16 pilots, the suspension orders of eight pilots withdrawn upon verification of having valid equivalent qualifications.

The report stated that during the said verification of pilots' degree/certificate, the CAA on its own also initiated a process for scrutiny of pilot licensing record.

During the said scrutiny, certain anomalies were identified in the computerised data of pilots' technical examination.

Consequently, for flight safety concerns, initially the CAA suspended 28 pilots, and finally 54 pilots were suspended.

The DG CAA said in order to minimise the chance of re-occurrence of future unauthorised access to the CAA Personnel Licensing System for Technical Examination, the Authority has requested the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) through controlling Division of the federal government to develop a system for "integration with Automated Biometric Identification Solutions (ABIS)".

The CAA in 2018-2019 has also taken measures to upgrade its security protocols/system such as; IP network segregation; security firewall configuration on operating system of server; scheduled shutdown of application server after licensing office hours; network printers installed in both examination halls; anti-virus has been installed on examination client; biometric enabled on existing system; and installation of CCTV camera.

Airblue also submitted a report, which states that as per list of the Ministry of Aviation, nine pilots were possessing suspected licenses.

Out of nine pilots, seven pilots left the Airblue in 2014, 2015 and 2018.

Two pilots namely Fida Muhammad Khalil and Muhammad Naveed Khokhar were serving in Airblue.

However, Naveed Khokhar was suspended by the management on 26-06-2020.

He has filed an appeal PCAA on 29-06-2020, which is pending.

It stated that during 2018-2019, 100 pilots were working with Airblue Ltd.

All the educational certificates and degrees were put under verification and as per report of the concerned institution, the educational certificates and degrees of 98 pilots were found correct and genuine, whereas the educational documents of two pilots were found bogus, thereupon, the said pilots were terminated from service by the management.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020