CAAP suspends examiner behind license renewal of Robredo plane pilot

The examiner who renewed the license of the pilot of the plane that crashed and killed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and two others last year has been suspended. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) handed Nomer Lazaro a 90-day preventive suspension after it determined that he never conducted a proficiency check ride on Capt. Jessup Bahinting before renewing Bahinting's license in May 2012. Bahinting and his co-pilot Kshitiz Chand also perished in the accident last August 18 off Masbate province. CAAP deputy director general John C. Andrews issued the suspension order after establishing that Bahinting never underwent a check ride as stated on Lazaro’s report. “An actual proficiency check ride is mandatory prior to the renewal of a pilot’s license,” Andrews noted in a statement. “This is to test a pilot’s capabilities. Sadly, our team has come across evidence that Capt. Bahinting was able to skip the process with the unlawful cooperation of CAAP’s own personnel,” he added. According to Andrews, their office got hold of a certification from the Mactan Flight Service Station stating that no flight plan had been filed for the purpose of conducting a check ride or test flight by Bahinting. At the same time, the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority also certified that no landing and take off fees were paid by Aviatour’s Flyin’ Inc., Bahinting’s company, for such a proficiency check ride. “These certifications strongly suggest that there was actually no check ride conducted on the pilot and the entries contained in the check ride report were fictitious,” Andrews said. The CAAP has earlier suspended Fernando Abalos, the inspector who inspected the Piper Seneca plane and certified to its airworthiness. “Our collateral board is wrapping up its investigation and will soon come out with its recommendations on the possible actions respecting the criminal and pecuniary liabilities of the erring personnel of the CAAP and officers of Aviatour,” Andrews said. Robredo, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee, has since been replaced by Mar Roxas as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). — KBK, GMA News