DGCA to make psychometric tests for pilots mandatory soon

New Delhi: The Germanwings crash incident where the pilot cause the plane to go down delibrately in the Alps in March, has shocked the world. So much that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also announced its plans of preparing detailed norms including that for assessment of an individual's mental health at the time of joining a flying training school.

The proposal of making psychometric tests mandatory for all pilots has been discussed by a three-member panel of the DGCA. Recently, the panel submitted its report to the chief of the DGCA, an official said.

Another round of test would be done while the individual goes for command of an airline. Pilots will also be liable to take the test in case some aberrations while carrying out duties are observed, the official said.

"DGCA is in discussions with various entities including the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)," the official added. Before finalising the norms, the regulator will also hold discussions with pilots.

In May, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma had said that if psychometric tests were in the wider interest of safety of passengers and civil aviation industry, then the government would make it mandatory. At present, Air India has made psychometric test mandatory for recruitment of trainee pilots (commercial pilot licence holders).