Hyderabad consumer forum orders Rs. 6,70,00 refund from ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy for incomplete training

HYDERABAD: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Rangareddy has ordered ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd to refund Rs.6,70,000 and pay a compensation of Rs.10,000 for incomplete training to a pilot aspirant in Hyderabad.

Complainant Mohit Agarwal (32), a resident of KPHB colony in Hyderabad, stated that he approached ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd in July 2020 for pilot training courses and licenses after being enticed by their advertisements. On July 27, 2020, he received an email from the administrative officer, Maneendra Reddy, stating that the total fees were Rs.10,95,000, including a registration fee of Rs.20,000, for a course of approximately six months, with a total flight time of 50 hours. Based on this email, he paid Rs.20,000 on July 28, 2020, towards registration and the remaining balance of Rs.10,75,000 on September 9, 2020.

ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd promised to commence training in August 2020, but failed to do so despite multiple messages from Mohit Agarwal between August 4, 2020, and August 3, 2021. Finally, on August 9, 2021, ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd executed a pilot training agreement in Mohit's favor, and the Government of India issued a student pilot license through the Civil Aviation Department, valid from August 9, 2021, to August 8, 2026, for five years.

Mohit Agarwal further stated that official training commenced on January 12, 2022, and was supposed to continue until March 31, 2022, during which he only received 16.5 hours of training out of the agreed 50 hours. ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd then suspended flights for maintenance from April 1, 2022, onwards, promising to resume within 15 days. Despite numerous messages, they failed to fulfill this promise.

Mohit Agarwal repeatedly emailed ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd for a refund, but after initially responding until July 6, 2023, they stopped replying altogether. Consequently, Mohit approached the Commission for redressal, leading to this complaint.

Despite being served notice, ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd did not appear or file a written response, and thus, was declared ex-parte by the court. Mohit submitted an evidence affidavit, and his counsel presented written arguments, which were heard by the court.

According to Mohit's evidence affidavit, he paid Rs.10,75,000 towards the flight training program, in addition to the Rs.20,000 registration fee, on September 9, 2020. As per the Pilot Training Agreement dated August 9, 2021, ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd was obligated to provide 50 hours of training within six months. Despite the issuance of a student pilot license, ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd failed to complete the training within the agreed-upon period.

The court concluded that Mohit's contention remained uncontested, noting that he paid Rs.20,000 for registration with the expectation of receiving a maximum of 50 hours of flight training for a private pilot license. The flight logs confirmed that Mohit received only 16.5 hours of training from ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd.

Based on the documentary evidence submitted by Mohit, the court ruled in his favor, declaring it a clear case of deficiency in service by ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd. They were ordered to refund Rs.6,70,000 along with 9 percent interest per annum from the date of complaint (September 25, 2023) until the date of realization. Additionally, ASIA Pacific Flight Training Academy Ltd was directed to pay Rs.10,000 towards compensation and costs to Mohit within 45 days of the order.