Pilot error

Aviation students in the air force may fail all their theoretical examinations the first time before starting practical pilot's training, the Afrikaans daily Beeld reported on Tuesday.

They may also fail two supplementary exams in those subjects, on condition that they maintain a 40 percent average for the other subjects. They may also fail two practical flight tests and will only be recommended to leave the course on failing the test for the third time. "Earlier, trainee pilots were only allowed to fail three subjects and had to pass by writing one supplementary exam and obtaining a minimum of 60 percent," defence minister Mosioua Lekota said in a written answer to a question asked in Parliament by Freedom Front defence spokesman Pieter Groenewald. Groenewald said this amounted to a drop in training standards and was a waste of taxpayers' money. "If pilots are not properly trained, they will not be able to act quickly and correctly in emergency situations and more aviation accidents will occur. A fighter plane costs several millions of rands and an accident because of poor training is to the detriment of the taxpayer."

The questions were asked after earlier reports on the dissatisfaction of air force flight instructors. he instructors complained after the flight training board turned down their recommendation to suspend the training of three students who were underachieving. The members of the board felt that instructors should take more trouble with these students because they did have the potential to succeed. Groenewald said the air force would acquire highly sophisticated Gripen fighter planes soon that would require high levels of training. "To drop standards for the sake of affirmative action, to make the pilot corps more representative, is short-sighted. If government is serious that the air force should function effectively, it would have to focus on the training standards in the air force. Otherwise, the acquisition of new planes would be a waste of money."

News24