Poor pilots irk instructors
Date: 8 May 2003
Erika Gibson
Pretoria - There is dissatisfaction over the training of pilots at the air force's Central Flight School in Langebaan after recommendations to suspend the training of four students were set aside by senior officials three times.
Despite failing their crucial tests, the trainees are back on the course because top brass believe they have the potential to pass.
The four students apparently failed tests on technical aspects and emergency procedure. Under the regulations, students may not fail more than three tests.
One of the four was taken off the course because of his poor performance in the ground school phase of the course. The others' dismal performance was set aside because the air force's ratings board felt that their marks were nearly there.
"The feeling is that they can pass with the necessary support," Colonel John Rolt, defence force spokesperson, said on Thursday.
The instructors and other officials feel that the rating process under the guidelines is "useless" and that the upper echelons of the force are ignoring their recommendations. The instructors feel they are in a better position to judge the candidates' potential.
At a recent meeting with the ratings board, the instructors were requested to go to more trouble to get the students to pass.
They were told to "walk the extra mile", while they feel that they have already been bending backwards to prepare weaker students to qualify.
"The message as we understand it is: 'Don't worry about standards or policy'. It is irrelevant whether a student takes ten flight hours or ten months to qualify. This type of intervention creates the impression that students do not have to practice."
News24
