Questions have been raised about the assessors checking the ATC communication skills of pilots while they are licensed. Aviation experts are questioning the inability of examiners to assess a pilot’s communication. While pilots are trained to practice efficient communication with air traffic controllers, they are required to undergo a test after training to obtain their Radio Telephony Restricted License or RTR(A). The test is conducted by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the Ministry of Communications. After all, communication between pilots and ATC is a vital pillar in the aviation industry, it stands out as a significant concern of experts.
Aviation experts allege that the chief examiners who interview these aspiring pilots lack practical experience. They also demand that the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), be entrusted with the responsibility of conducting RTR(A) tests.
Once a candidate qualifies the RTR(A) exam, he/she becomes eligible to obtain Flight Radio Telephone Operator (FTRO) license from DGCA. Without FTRO license, a candidate cannot get Commercial Pilot’s License (CPL) from the aviation regulator.
Capt SS Panesar, ex-pilot and former director of flight safety and training at the then Indian Airline, said, “Since the screening process is off the mark, flight training institutes (being aware of the shortcomings) settle for higher training standards.” ”
“This has resulted in instances of communication lapses between pilots and ATC that put air safety at risk,” he said.
Experts further say that instead of giving emergency status to pilots and asking them how they will communicate with ATC, WPC officials ask candidates to draw pictures of satellites, optical fibers used in data cables and the definition of 2G and 3G. Let’s ask ,
Panesar said, “These are irrelevant questions.
He added that the ministry has accepted that the testers have no experience of operating radio equipment mounted on aircraft either in flight or on the ground.
The ministry, responding to Panesar’s application, said that these chief examiners should have “the basic qualification of a graduate in engineering, or MSc with electronics as a special subject and at least more than 20 years of experience in working with various communication systems”. years of extensive experience”. ,
The response states, “Examiners monitor a variety of radio communications, including aeronautical communications, and have the basic competency of a Diploma. They do not operate aircraft-mounted radio RT equipment while the aircraft is in flight or on the ground.” But it happens.”
However, DGCA Director General Arun Kumar told PTI that the aviation regulator is also involved in the process. “Our experts participate in the conduct of the exam,” he said.
Experts argued that these DGCA experts, who appear for these exams, also come from technical backgrounds such as the Air Navigation Services (ANS).
Federation of Indian Pilots secretary Capt Charanveer Singh Randhawa supports Panesar and says that getting RTR(A) license is an extremely difficult task as the questions asked by the instructors are vague and irrelevant from the pilot’s point of view.
“Moreover, students are disqualified if the demand for money is not met. They are also not selected because questions are asked out of the syllabus. The syllabus is completely out of date and not available for pilot testing,” he added. does not meet the required criteria.”
“The pilots’ representations on the issue were ignored,” he claimed.
Capt Randhawa feels that there is an urgent need to get this examination system under the DGCA, to revise the syllabus by the Flying Standards Directorate (FSD) of the DGCA, among other measures. “These steps will end the red-tapism and agony of pilots getting RTR(A),” he said.
Highlighting the practice in developed countries like UK, veteran pilot Amit Singh, who runs an NGO – Safety Matters Foundation – said that in developed countries both RTR(A) and FTRO licenses are granted by aviation regulators only.
Professionals engaged in training of pilots say that the practice of RTR(A) exam has been with WPC for a very long time but its standard has deteriorated over time and now candidates are cleared on the basis of whims and fancies . testers.
“Both the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the DGCA are aware of the issue and in June 2022, MoCA had sent an office memorandum to shift the RTR (A) exam from WPC to DGCA,” a source in the ministry told.
He further added, “This includes changes in the legal framework such as the Aircraft Act and Rules, The Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Commercial Radio Operator Certificate of Proficiency and License to Operate Wireless Telegraphy). Perhaps, for these reasons, the transfer is getting delayed. ”
Retired Air Commodore BS Siwach, who holds distinctions like Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal, says that even Air Force pilots, who have thousands of hours of flying experience, go through this process to get CPL. have to pass through.
They suggest that until the legal framework is amended, practical training should be given to examiners so that they understand aviation terminology.
With inputs from PTI