COSMOS flying school under scrutiny
COSMOS Aviation’s flying school, which was given a week-long extension on its licence, would be subject to an audit tomorrow by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Owned by former Monitoring MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena, the controversial aviation school came into the spotlight since it had not made payments amounting to Rs.24 million to both the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd (AASL) for using the hangar and runway at the Ratmalana airport and for obtaining a licence to operate a flying school.
CAA Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the Business Times the audit was expected to be completed by Tuesday with the report due by Wednesday.
He noted that this was part of a regulatory exercise and that every time renewals take place an audit is carried out.
Mr. Nimalsiri also pointed out that since the AASL had given two weeks time for the COSMOS, “we had agreed for one week (licence)”.
The AASL had allowed COSMOS a period of two weeks on a temporary basis to use the runway and hangar at the Ratmalana airport following which it would be decided if this should continue or not.
In the meantime, COSMOS had paid up Rs.24 million to the AASL that was due from them on Monday.
The aviation academy was involved in training students to pilot light aircraft for which at the conclusion of their courses they could be issued licences, the Director General said.
Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga in a media release has stated that the relevant authorities would be conducting further investigations on the conduct of the COSMOS aviation company and the school operated by it.