Increasing pilot intake at the cost of passenger safety?

SriLankan Airlines revised the simulator test cut-off mark to increase the intake of qualified national candidates, said Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena. He insisted that this did not amount to a lowering of standards or of training quality.

Mr. Chandrasena confirmed that the management had put the latest batch on hold in response to protests by the Pilots Guild. A discussion between the two sides is scheduled for today. “We hope we can arrive at a position without compromising any standards while also looking at the long-term interests of the airline and of this country,” he said.

The CEO said he didn’t know why the chief pilots of training and standards had resigned, as they had not spoken directly with him. “I presume there was some disagreement and they tendered their resignations in protest,” he asserted.

The airline was short of 50 First Officers, he observed. This had forced them to hire expatriate captains who commanded higher fees. Not only did the airline need more pilots, it was national policy to afford more opportunities to Sri Lankans. It was not immediately clear why the hiring of more Sri Lankans mandated a reduction in the pass mark of just one of three tests.

All candidates who sat the simulator test had possessed the required qualifications, having passed a written exam and a technical competency test. They were within age limit and had the necessary educational credentials. “We merely asked in this case to lower the cut-off mark of the simulator assessment to accommodate more Sri Lankans,” Mr. Chandrasena said.

The CEO could not explain, however, why it had been decided to slash the qualifying score from 70 to 65—and not to any other figure. He said the management had stipulated the new pass mark, “based on the requirement”. He said he didn’t know or have any personal connection to the two failed candidates that benefited from the change.

Although Mr. Chandrasena said the management intended to increase the pilot intake, the airline does not have sufficient training capacity. In fact, SriLankan has reduced its number of cadet pilot intakes this year from three to two. “The last batch is yet to finish training, while some have not even started,” a senior pilot said, requesting anonymity.

Cadet pilots undergo a yearlong programme approved and regulated by the Director General of Civil Aviation. Mr. Chandrasena said it was this programme that set the standards—not the preemployment tests. “The management has at no time asked to revise or reduce the standard of that training programme,” he pointed out.

The CEO could not explain why instructors had not been consulted, only saying, “The thinking is that instructors are there to do the training programme.”

Why had the management waited till the selection of candidates was finalised to change the criterion? The question remains.