More than 200 pilots have exaggerated or lied about their experience in the past two years, mainland aviation authorities said.
Pilots' credentials will be a major focus amid increasing air safety concerns after a string of accidents.
Anonymous officials with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) told an internal meeting on August 26 that during an investigation in 2008 and last year, they also found at least half the pilots in question were working for Shenzhen Airlines, China Business News reported yesterday. Shenzhen Airlines owns Henan Airlines, the carrier responsible for the fatal crash two weeks ago that cost 42 lives.
China Business News quoted a senior manager of a private airline as saying pilots who faked credentials had moved on to different employers too often and had coloured their r?sum?s or were former military pilots, who mainly had experience flying small military planes and might not be qualified to fly civil aircraft.
The CAAC admitted early last year that some pilots of Shenzhen Airlines had faked their flying history, but did not give any figures or other details. The administration's media department could not be reached for comment yesterday.
China Business News said that according to the administration's instruction, this round of investigations would focus on the qualifications of crew, especially captains, and flight instructors.
Furthermore, the credentials of air traffic control officers and the technicians providing ground support would also be investigated, and those unqualified would be asked to upgrade their training, be demoted or be transferred out of key positions.
