FILE PHOTO
KARACHI: While the issue of pilots holding fake credentials had rocked the aviation industry of Pakistan a few years ago, it has now emerged that a doctor with hearing impairment used to issue fitness certificates to commercial pilots in Pakistan.
The aeromedical additional director, who retired recently, used to issue fitness certificates to pilots including about their ability to hear. However, the doctor was himself impaired from one ear, according to reports in national media.
Last year, when a team from the International Civil Aviation Authority visited Pakistan for an inspection, the deaf doctor was sent on leave and in his place his assistant was presented for a briefing to them.
Despite objections from the Human Resource Department, the doctor was inducted into the CAA due to his political connections and assigned the important task of issuing fitness certificates to commercial pilots. After his retirement, his replacement has also been made in a dubious manner.
Upon the retirement of the hearing impaired doctor, another doctor was appointed who neither has experience nor the required degree, said the reports. The new doctor, a woman, holds a diploma in aerospace medicine from an institution that is not recognized by the Higher Education Commission.
However, a spokesperson for the CAA said that appointments in the organization were always made purely on merit.
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