THE family, friends and employees of the late Capt. Jessup Bahinting voiced dismay over reports that he allegedly had an expired license when he flew Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo last Aug. 18.
“It is not true that Capt. Jessup Bahinting’s license was expired. We have proof that it’s renewed. Maybe the database of the Civil Aviation Authority wasn’t updated,” Aviatour Air human resources department manager Michelle Ferol said.
An Aviatour Flying Inc. employee who requested anonymity told Cebu Daily News that he was asked by Jessup to process the renewal of his license early this year.
He said Bahinting is required to do so since he’s running a flying school.
“He was responsible and very well respected. His service was even requested by (Saranggani Rep.) Manny Pacquiao when he comes here,” the employee said.
Bahintang’s widow Margarita received on his behalf the Lifesaver Award from the Cebu City government for delivering the anti-venom serum from Camiguin province that saved the life of Cebu City zoo keeper Ronaldo Aventurado.
The statement came amid an ongoing investigation by the CAAP into the cause of the Piper Seneca plane crash that killed Bahinting, Robredo and Nepalese co-pilot Kshitiz Chand over the waters off Masbate City.
Ferol explained that their company bars pilots from flying without a license.
She said the late Capt. Bahinting was very “strict” when it comes to licenses. Aviatour Air Inc. grounded its fleet a day after the plane crash.
Ferol said their company observes the strictest safety measures with Bahinting personally flying with each student before he signs documents for a license.
“He (Bahinting) makes sure the school produces very good pilots,” she said.
Initial results of the CAAP inquiry that were disclosed to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) showed that the emergency location transmitter (ELT) of the Piper Seneca failed to activate on impact.
The pilots reportedly called the Masbate airport requesting for an emergency landing due to engine trouble before it crashed 500 meters from the runway.
Aviatour Air Inc. called on the CAAP to speed up its investigation into the crash.
It also appealed to authorities not to shut down their flight school in Mactan since it would affect the training of their 200 students, most of whom are foreigners. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles, Reporter Rhea Ruth V. Rosell and Inquirer