“Since Capt. Vivek Chhabra has taken over as the Chief Flight Operations Inspector (Aeroplanes), he along with Jt.DG (Operations), Ravi Krishna is playing foul and is influencing Director General, Arun Kumar to flout and willfully manipulate rules and regulations of DGCA already in place”
K Koushal
In an apparent contravention of Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), a powerful coterie of ‘autocratic’ high ranking officers of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have reportedly parachuted an officer with ‘tainted’ past on the prime post of Deputy Chief Flight Operations Inspector (Aeroplanes).
Senior official in the Directorate, wishing anonymity told The Typewriter that an officer reportedly rejected by the scrutiny committee earlier, constituted for the Deputy Chief Flight Operations Inspector (Aeroplanes) in 2020 on the grounds that the officer has ‘tainted’ past, was later on appointed on the same post by the ‘arbitrary’ and ‘powerful’ coterie in the DGCA.
“In 2020, when his application for the post of Deputy Chief Flight Operations Inspector (Aeroplanes) was scrutinised, it was rejected on the grounds that he has tainted past and does not meet the requirement as per Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR),” said the official, once part of the scrutiny committee, adding that the reasons for rejection were mentioned as remarks in the green noting sheet.
Official added that the scrutiny committee of 2020 for Dy.CFOI (Aeroplanes) had higher ratio of permanent employees, with officers’ equivalent or higher in hierarchy to the respective post, which was later on manipulated in 2021 to ‘accommodate’ Capt G. Shiv Kumar.
“Past misdemeanor of Capt G. Shiv Kumar has cost him the post of DyCFOI (Aeroplane) in 2020, but surprisingly he was selected in 2021,” said official, adding that in 2021 when the incumbent DyCFOI (Aeroplanes) G. Shiv Kumar was selected, scrutiny committee had higher ratio of contractual employees, with officers’ subordinate to the respective post,” official asserted, adding that even the officer heading the scrutiny committee, Tuhinanshu Sharma (presently Deputy Director General) was from Airworthiness background, making her ‘incompetent’ to be part of the scrutiny committee (Operations).
Meanwhile, giving details about ‘tainted’ past of Capt G. Shiv Kumar, highly placed sources in DGCA shared that he was removed from the post of Head of Training GoAir.
“DGCA have come up with an instance of arbitrary and manipulative appointment, wherein they have appointed Capt G. Shiv Kumar as Dy.CFOI (Aeroplanes),” said sources, quoting from the representation adding, “I am conscious of the fact that you won’t buy my submission(s) unless duly corroborated by specific facts/data of the case, in terms of the inputs received at my end from MOCA & DGCA in respect of the said Capt G Shiv Kumar.”
Representation (Copy in possession of the Typewriter) says, “To elaborate the extent of integrity and loyalty of said Capt G. Shiv Kumar, it is pertinent to apprise you, despite the fact that the authorities at MOCA & DGCA are aware of the same that Capt. G. Shiv Kumar while serving in Go First/GoAir in the capacity of Chief of Training as also being a Designated Examiner had submitted forged documents regarding IR/PPC (Instrument Rating/Pilot Proficiency Check) in respect of Senior First Officer, Sumit Chillar.”
It further reads, “Wherein after reporting of the matter and consequent upon an inquiry initiated in the matter, Capt G. Shiv Kumar was suspended by the DGCA apart from removal from the post of Chief of Training as well as suspension of his Designated Examinership,” adding, “It is utterly beyond any logical comprehension as to how a person whose loyalty and integrity is not beyond reproach as also who has a tendency to act arbitrarily and manipulatively to the extent that he can forge the documents that can result into causing harm to the flight safety as also to the public/ passenger safety, has been appointed as DyCFOI in DGCA.”
Sources stated that the role of Director General (DGCA), Joint Director General (Operations) and Chief Flight Operations Inspector (Aeroplanes) cannot be condoned in this ‘arbitrary’ constitution of ‘dubious’ scrutiny committee.
“Since Capt. Vivek Chhabra has taken over as the Chief Flight Operations Inspector (Aeroplanes), he along with Jt.DG (Operations), Ravi Krishna is playing foul and is influencing Director General, Arun Kumar to flout and willfully manipulate rules and regulations of DGCA already in place,” alleged highly placed sources of DGCA, adding that Jt. DG, Ravi Krishna is also from Airworthiness background, but has a control over operations, making him an authority to ‘tailor’ guidelines of the DGCA for appointment of different posts.
Pertinently, when The Typewriter checked the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 7-Flight Crew Standards Training and Licensing, for the appointment of examiners, it was clarified in section 5.1 “The operator, while requesting appointment of examiners shall justify the need of number of Designated Examiners required to meet the quantum of regulatory checks to be performed. The operators shall also ensure and confirm that pilots recommended for appointment as Examiners are of recognized integrity, free from prejudices and strong likes and dislikes and capable of recording fair assessments and shall be known for impartial conduct.”
Official has also questioned Indigo (InterGlobe Aviation) for recommending name of Capt G. Shiv Kumar for Designated Examiner, which was surprisingly granted by DGCA.
When contacted Capt G. Shiv Kumar admitted that he was removed from Head of Training in Go Air and his Designated Examinership was also withdrawn for 12 months by DGCA.
“In 2020, I applied for the post of SFOI and was eventually called for the interview, but could not get selected,” said Capt. G. Shiv Kumar, adding that he again applied for DyCFOI in October 2020.
“My application was rejected and I was told that I am not current Designated Examiner,” he said and added that in 2021 he again applied for the post of DyCFOI, as he got his Designated Examinership back.
When asked why his Designated Examinership was withdrawn, he earlier tried to manipulate the facts by claiming, “Because I have been to Nepal and was working in a foreign country,” he said.
When contradicted with facts about GoAir incident, Capt G. Shiv Kumar said, “That’s all in public domain what’s new about it.”
When contacted the Joint Director General (Admin) Puja Singh Mandol, she expressed her inability to speak on the matter.
“I do not speak to anyone from media. Moreover, I am not required to speak to media and clarify anything pertaining to this matter, so I think you cannot force me to do the thing which I do not want to,” dodged Jt DG (Admin).
All the members of the Scrutiny Committee of 2020 and 2021, including A X Joseph, Ravinder Singh Jamwal, Capt Shweta Singh, Tuhinanshu Sharma, Capt Sameer Sahani and Capt Gautam Anand were contacted, but citing on or the another reason, nobody spoke about the matter.
Talking to The Typewriter, Director Flight Standard Directorate-Ravindra Kumar said that he does not carry detail of everybody in the Directorate in his pocket.
“I am very new in the directorate, so I do not carry detail of everybody in my pockets,” he said and added that he is not supposed to recall detail of everyone.
“Director does not keep details about the recruitment of DyCFOI,” he claimed.
Director General, DGCA-Arun Kumar and Joint Director General Operations, Ravi Krishna did not respond to the repeated calls and text messages.
