Monday
23rd Dec 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Captain Mohamed Ameen, Director of Operations at Island Aviation from 2006 to 2018, stated pilots require 40 days of training to fly a Dornier aircraft.
At a panel discussion held by youth initiative “Save Addu”, Captain Ameen highlighted the infiltration of Indian forces in Addu, and their Dornier aircrafts and helicopters.
He first expressed his concerns in 2018, when the Indian government refused to withdraw the two helicopters long after the expiration of the agreement regarding their operations. He further stated that although MNDF declared the Dornier flights were to be operated by local pilots, they are still being flown by Indian pilots.
Compared to Indian pilots, Maldivians have ample experience in flying, operating, and maintaining Dornier planes, said Captain Ameen. Having trained to operate the plane himself, he claimed it only takes 40 days of training to operate a Dornier aircraft.
In addition, he was disturbed by generals at MNDF defending further agreements discussed by the defense minister and other ministry officials. The helicopter agreement also has several troubling pitches.
The captain was unsettled by the High Commission of India being responsible for publicizing information regarding projects in collaboration with India’s Exim Bank, instead of the Maldivian government.