Investigation Reveals Many Chinese Pilots Faked Qualifications

Here's some reassuring news to send us into the September-October holiday season. In the wake of the Henan Airlines crash in Yichun a fortnight ago that killed 42 people, an investigation by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has revealed that more than 200 commercial pilots in China faked their resumes in 2008-2009. Even more disturbingly, more than half of the pilots with fake qualifications worked for Shenzhen Airlines, which holds a 51 percent share in Henan Airlines.

An article in yesterday’s Global Times says: “An insider from Shenzhen Airlines told the Global Times that more than 170 pilots from Shenzhen Airlines have manipulated their flying experience. ‘But only three pilots were punished and suspended from flying, as Shenzhen Airlines was in desperate need of pilots in its developing period,’ he said, adding that that pilots muddled through by bribing officials or through close relations."

Way to go guys - just whack some unqualified person in the cockpit and hope for the best. A great way to ensure the long-term success of your airline.

While it's shocking that Shenzhen Airlines overlooked the fact that 170 pilots lied about their flying experience, the real question is how were they able to get into the pilot's seat in the first place? Does this mean airlines in China don't even bother cross-checking applicants' qualifications and references?

The Global Times article also notes: “No updates on the cause of the crash in Yichun have been made public, though investigators have recovered the flight recorders. Media reports have revealed that CAAC officials believed that Qi Quanjun, the airplane captain who survived the disaster, lacked experience and qualifications, as he had flown the E190 plane for just a year.”