No psychometric tests for pilots: Raju informs Lok Sabha

New Delhi: There will be no change in the cockpit rules in India in the aftermath of the Germanwings crash, where the co-pilot crashed the aircraft after forcing the commander outside the cockpit. Neither is India’s aviation regulator DGCA asking airlines in India to conduct mandatory, periodical psychometric tests for pilots and flying crew.[caption id=“attachment_1715337” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] Answering a question in Lok Sabha today, Civil Aviation Minister A Gajapathi Raju said, “DGCA has already issued Air Safety Circular 3 of 2010 regarding manning of cockpit during non-critical phases of flight. It mandates that in case one of the crew members has to leave the cockpit during the non critical phases of flight, a cabin crew member is required to be inside the cockpit and occupy the observer seat. So in effect, India already enforces the two-person cockpit rule which is why no amendment to the present rule is being envisaged.” Raju also ruled out any mandatory psychometric tests for pilots though some airlines and industry experts have been asking that these now be included in tests required to certify cabin crew before each flight. There have been some reports of DGCA considering introduction of psychometric tests now.