Online petition against DGCA’s power to suspend pilot licenses sans inquiry

MUMBAI: The director-general of civil aviation’s power to suspend a pilot’s licence for any period of time should be removed, says an online petition filed by a senior pilot on Thursday.
The petition titled, “Remove DGCA’s sweeping powers for pilot’s suspension” put up on change.org by Capt Amit Singh says that licenses should be suspended only in cases of “gross negligence, wilful violations and destructive acts”.
Under the current provisions of Indian Aircraft Rules, 1937, Rule 19 (3), a pilot’s license can be suspended for any period of time if “the central government (the director-general in this case) is satisfied that there are sufficient grounds to do so”.