DGCA automates issuance of commercial pilot licenses, all functions to be automated by 2020

The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has announced that the issue of CPL-A (commercial pilot licenses) will now be automated. This will be phase-1 of the DGCA’s e-governance project, whose services were launched on the new DGCA website, a release stated. 

The rolling out of the CPL-A in its automated form would help with faster issuance of licenses and do away with the manual handling and processing of applications. The automation is estimated to benefit at least 700 aspiring pilots each year.

The project is being implemented with the help of Tata Consultancy Services as the service provider, while PricewaterhouseCoopers will work as the project management consultant for the deployment.

All processes and functions of the DGCA have been conceptualised for automation by the directorate.

“The project envisages an end-to-end solution, including various software applications, connectivity with all the regional offices, and a ‘portal’ for dissemination of information and providing online and speedy service delivery in a secure environment,” the release said.

The DGCA said that the project would enhance the efficiency of various services, along with better transparency and accountability in functions.

Along with the commercial pilot licenses, the flight radio telephony operators’ license and the instrument rating licenses have been automated.  

Applicants for pilot licenses will now be able to register and fill up flying details on the DGCA portal. The details would then be verified by the chief flight instructors, after which their applications would be eligible for submission for issuance of CPL-A online. The new license would be issued in a plastic card that contains a QR code holding necessary details of the pilot.

The DGCA looks to implement more automated services in subsequent phases of the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.