Journalism of Courage
Following a software glitch,less than 4 per cent candidates managed to clear the first-ever online examinations for pilot licence conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier this month,that too in only one subject out of 12.
The exams had been started after a number of pilots were found to have used fradulent means to acquire their flying licences. Following Fridays results,none of the 4,000 candidates will be able to secure a licence. Nearly,900 candidates appeared for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) or commanders licence,while the rest were mostly for Commercial Pilot Licence or co-pilots.
According to top DGCA officials,of the 4,000 candidates who appeared in the online examinations during December 3-9,175-odd candidates managed to clear only one subject air navigation.
The results were posted on the air safety regulators website at 5.30 pm today.
There was an error in the software which led to this kind of result,where candidates cleared only one subject. The results got mixed up and no review of the results was conducted before putting these up online, said a senior DGCA official.
The National Informatics Centre devised the exams.
It was in March that the Civil Aviation Ministry had decided to conduct the online examinations,which was also recommended by an expert panel,comprising DGCA chief E K Bharat Bhushan and senior Air India executives.
