SINUSPINDE ng Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) ang isang examiner na nagbigay ng clearance kay Capt. Jessup Bahinting para makapag-renew ng pilot’s license noong May 2012 kahit hindi sumailalim sa mandatory proficiency check ride.
Ayon kay CAAP Deputy Director General Capt. John Andrews, inilagay sa 90-day preventive suspension si Nomer Lazaro, na nagsinungaling sa kanyang report na nagsagawa siya ng proficiency check ride kay Bahinting.
“An actual proficiency check ride is mandatory prior to the renewal of a pilot’s license. 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,” anang Andrews.
Si Capt. Bahinting ay may-ari ng Aviatour’s Fly’n Inc., at piloto ng twin-engine Piper Seneca na bumagsak sa karagatan ng Masbate noong Agosto 18, 2012, may 300 metro ang layo mula sa airport.
Namatay sa naturang aksidente sina Bahinting, ang Nepalese national student pilot na si Kshitiz Chand, at DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. Nakaligtas naman ang aide ni Robredo na si Police Chief Inspector June Paolo Abrazado.
Isa sa mga binase ng CAAP para magawa ang suspension order ay ang sertipikasyon na inisyu ng Mactan Flight Service Station na nagpahayag na walang isinumiteng flight plan tungkol sa pagsasagawa ng check ride o test flight para kay Bahinting.
Nabatid din na ang Mactan-Cebu International Airport ay gumawa ng sertipikasyon na walang ibinayad na landing at take-off fees ang Aviatour’s Fly’n Inc. para sa 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 submitted by you are fictitious and did not reflect the actual proficiency of Capt. Jessup M. Bahinting of Aviatour’s Flyin’ Inc,” ayon kay Andrews.
Noong nakaraang Nobyembre, sinuspinde ng CAAP si Fernando Abalos, ang inspector na sumuri sa Piper Seneca plane na sinakyan ni Robredo at nag-certify ng 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 CAAP and officers of Aviatours,” anang Andrews.