DGCA panel has proposed tests be conducted even before a candidate is inducted into a flying training institute
Those aspiring to be commercial pilots may now have to undergo a psychometric test even before securing admission into a flying training institute. And, psychometric tests will be conducted before the candidate is inducted as a pilot into an airline. What's more, the candidate will be repeatedly assessed at various stages of one's career, through psychological screening.
A round of tests will follow in case aberrations are observed while a pilot is on duty.
These recommendations, by a three-member committee of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), come in the wake of a Germanwings crash in March in which a co-pilot had deliberately crashed the plane into the French Alps, killing all 150 on board.
The committee also took note of another incident, in India, in which an Air India commander and co-pilot were involved in an argument, setting off alarm bells.
Last year, a Jet Airways flight accidentally dropped 2,500 ft when its captain fell asleep and the co-pilot was absorbed in her tablet device.
"The guidelines will take time to be finalised. We are also in talks with the Air Force, the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, psychologists and a separate wing of the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) to formulate the norms," said a senior DGCA official. The regulator would also consult pilots on the issue.
After the Germanwings crash, some airlines had made their selection process for pilots more robust, focusing on mental fitness. Air India had rejected a third of 160 candidates for failing this test. The airline had, for the first time, used an independent psychologist from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to check for mental fitness of candidates. An individual found unfit, even if he had passed the mandatory simulator test, wasn't selected.
In India, airlines conduct psychometric tests on pilots during recruitment, though there are no regulations on the issue. Some conduct a written psychometric test, while others use computerised evaluation. Sources said the DGCA would formulate standard guidelines, to be followed by all the airlines.
To keep their commercial licences valid, pilots have to undergo medical checks once or twice a year. The tests, conducted at air force stations and approved private hospitals, adhere to global guidelines and primarily focus on physical well-being.
A task force set up by the European Aviation Safety Agency has also released a set of recommendations after analysing the Germanwings crash. It recommended pilots in Europe undergo psychological tests as part of their initial training or before joining an airline.
"The task force concluded improved medical checks on crews could bring a strong contribution to air safety. The evaluation focused on medical and psychological assessments of pilots, including drugs and alcohol testing, for which screening tests are readily available. The task force also pointed to the need for a better oversight framework for aero-medical examiners," the European Commission said in a press statement.
Some experts, however, termed such proposals as a "knee-jerk reaction". "Clearly, the DGCA is unable to distinguish between a psychological, a psychometric and a psychiatric test. Psychometrics deals with knowledge, intelligence and analytic skills. Before getting an initial licence, a pilot undergoing a psychological test is acceptable. But though the psychological profile is fine, the pilot might undergo depression tomorrow. That cannot be addressed in the psychometric tests," said Shakti Lumba, former head of training at IndiGo.
