THE co-pilot of the fatal Helios flight crash displayed weaknesses on the flight simulator but his performance fulfilled the legal requirements for a pilot licence, the Nicosia Criminal Court heard yesterday.
According to Frederic Badijon, who was the company’s flight operations manager and training director between January 2000 and March 2003, Pambos Charalambous did a good job in the cockpit under normal circumstances but on the simulator, where the examiners put on more pressure, he displayed “weaknesses.”
“In the first OPC (operator proficiency check) after training, he did not perform according to our expectations,” Badijon told the court. We had to work on his weaknesses a little. He basically scored the minimum requirements according to JAR OPS (Joint Aviation Requirement for the operation of commercial air transport).
The witness added that Charalambous was very weak in his knowledge of the aircraft and technical matters.
“His performance was not sufficient for Helios’ expectations but it was enough to renew his licence,” Badijon said.
Charalambous had been given a second chance to undergo a second test where he performed better and showed improved technical knowledge, the witness said.
Asked why Charalambous was allowed to fly, in his deposition to police following the August 14, 2005 crash, Badijon said it was difficult to dismiss someone who had a licence.
“We had thousands of applications from foreign pilots with great experience when we published the jobs in Flight International, but we were not allowed to hire them.” Badijon said. “Only foreign captains could be hired.”
Charalambous had been grounded after failing a check on January 24, 2002 but was reinstated on February 18 of the same year after passing a fresh test.
He scored the minimum level and started to fly again, the witness told the court.
Badijon agreed with the defence that it was him who hired Charalambous after he was satisfied by his interview and subsequent simulator tests.
He also agreed with a defence observation that Charalambous had been tested by examiners who were approved and were accountable to the UK civil aviation authority – contracted by the Cypriot department of civil aviation – and not by the directors of the airline.
Now-defunct Helios Airways and four of its top officers are on trial for “employing, and continuing to employ, unfit and inadequate pilots.” They face charges of manslaughter and reckless endangerment leading to the death of 119 people (everyone aboard the aircraft minus the two pilots).
Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
