Turbulence in the cockpit as Srilankan management lowers qualifying mark

Chief Pilots in charge of training and standards resign in protest while Pilots Guild will only ‘fly the roster’

SriLankan Airlines has suspended its latest intake of trainee pilots over protests that the management had lowered a crucial qualifying test score ostensibly to accommodate two failed candidates.

The qualifying score for the final aptitude test—conducted in a flight simulator—was set at 70. However, the management had unexpectedly directed SriLankan Airlines Chief Operations Officer Captain Druvi Perera to reduce this by five points to 65.

Two candidates who were previously notified that they had failed the test were then asked to report for their medical examination at SriLankan, informed sources told the Sunday Times. This raised the number of selected cadet pilots from eight to 10. A total of 33 sat the exam.

The reduction of the qualifying score was strongly opposed by the instructor panel, with the two chief pilots in charge of training and standards, resigning. The Pilots Guild immediately held an Extraordinary General Meeting at which they decided to “fly the roster”. This meant they would reject requests from the Flight Operations Department to work on their holidays, to meet a dire pilot shortage.

As SriLankan has insufficient pilots to run the roster in a regulated manner, this could result in delays and flight cancellations, Pilots Guild President Captain Ruwan Withanage told the Sunday Times. He stressed, however, that the Guild was not willing to compromise on standards and safety. The membership was united on this.

“We are trying to safeguard a system that has been put in place to protect all of you as passengers on our airplanes,” he said. “Instructors are widely respected in the world of aviation. If the management lowers the pass mark, overlooking the whole instructor body, where do we stand? This is a matter of pilot training, the standards for which are decided by a forum of instructors.”

Ironically, the results of pre-employment tests for pilots are speedily released to minimise external influence. The simulator tests were held on February 26, 27 and 28, and the scores disclosed a day later, on March 1. The candidates were informed of the outcome the same afternoon.

By Saturday morning, however, the SriLankan management had con- firmed that it would lower the pass mark—defying all procedures set in place to prevent meddling.

It is not clear whose idea it was to have the criterion changed. Upon repeated questioning by the Pilots Guild, the management claimed it had been done on the instructions of Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne. But the Minister’s letter, seen the by the Sunday Times, was dated March 6— four days after the score was revised.

Pilots Guild sources pointed out that aviation regulatory authorities around the world have set pass marks at 70. This includes the Federal Aviation Agency of the United States, the Joint Aviation Authorities of Europe and the British Civil Aviation Authority. The same qualifying score is required even of cabin crew, at their various examinations.

This criterion has been so strictly applied at SriLankan that candidates— including the sons and daughters of senior instructor pilots—are repeatedly disqualified in spite of some of them scoring as high as 69 at the aptitude test.

“The failed candidates could always reapply, after assessing what they did wrong and correcting their mistakes,” said an experienced pilot, on condition of anonymity. “I didn’t make it into the national airline at my first attempt.”

When contacted for comment, Civil Aviation Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiri confirmed that the qualifying score in all tests set by the regulator was 70. This included examinations to obtain a private pilot licence, a commercial pilot licence or an airline transport pilot licence.

Additionally, pilots recruited by SriLankan—including the most senior ones—were continuously subjected to assessments such as technical refresher, safety equipment procedures and dangerous goods tests. The pass mark for each was 70, where failure resulted in loss of employment.

“In aviation, there can be no lowering of an academic pass-mark,” Captain Withanage said. “We are strictly regulated professionals. The aptitude test is the most important one, a basic exercise that checks one’s flying skills. You will find people who have passed theoretical tests, but can’t fly.”

Captain Withanage warned that the dispute could escalate, “because all the instructors are against this”. Among other things, their integrity was at stake.