Two Maldivian Pilots Granted Permits To Fly India's Dornier Aircraft

Two Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) pilots have received official permission to fly the Dornier aircraft operated by the Indian military in Maldivian territory. This is the first time that Maldivian nationals have been granted permission to fly the aircraft.

The two servicepeople trained by the Indian Armed Forces who received permission to fly the Dornier aircraft were awarded the C.G. Aviation Squad Badge today by Chief of Defence Force Maj. Gen. Abdullah Shamal.

The Maldivian pilots will fly the aircraft under command of the Indian military. As per the agreement pertaining to the Dornier aircraft, the Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives has full authority and command over the aircraft and its use. Indian soldiers will be active in the maintenance and flight of the aircraft. Although both pilots have received official permission to fly the aircraft, it is unclear how much access they would be granted to do so.

Speaking at the awarding ceremony, Maj. Gen. Abdullah Shamal thanked the Indian military who had trained the pilots, and had described the permits as a "historic honour".

In the letter of exchange passed between the Indian and Maldivian governments in 2019, both governments had signed an agreement that would allow Maldivian pilots to fly the aircraft. While five pilots in total have been trained to fly the aircraft to date, only four completed their training, and only two have been permitted to fly the aircraft. One pilot left the MNDF due to the long delays in receiving their permit.

Although both the Indian government and the Solih administration have repeatedly attempted to characterise the Dornier aircraft as a "gift" from India to the Maldives; the aircraft is, in reality, property of the Indian navy. The Maldivian government had temporarily granted the Indian military permission to operate the craft within Maldivian borders.