The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Thursday vowed to take action on the alleged proliferation of fake licenses issued to student pilots.

This was the pronouncement of CAAP Director General Alfonso Cusi who ordered a crackdown on the illegal issuance of flying permits.

But despite the discovery of the fake licenses, Cusi assured the public that all commercial pilots operating in the country possess authentic licenses and that flying remains safe.

“It is not a national threat but we are taking actions against those who falsify pilot licenses,” Cusi said.

As a result of the crackdown, aviation schools nationwide will undergo scrutiny to find out which ones have violated the license issuance procedures.

CAAP consultant Captain Raul Trinidad disclosed that they have in their possession a fake certificate issued to a foreigner who was recorded to have taken five examinations in a single day.

The examinations covered the subjects Civil Air Regulations, Theory of Flight, Meteorology, Emergency Procedures and Navigation where the examinee scored 80 percent in each subject.

“One examination is usually taken for one whole day but in this certificate, the student took all five examinations in one day which is not possible. There are really irregularities,” Trinidad said.

He added that the control number of the fake certificate could not be found in the records of the Examination Board of the CAAP.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is helping in the investigation of the discrepancies. Trinidad disclosed that there are no suspects yet but said a syndicate is behind the fake licenses.

Nine persons from the examination board and licensing division of CAAP were asked to submit their counter-affidavits on the matter.