A ‘statement’ from members of two powerful Aerocivil unions —the Colombian Association of Air Traffic Controllers (ACDECTA) and the Colombian Union of Air Traffic Controllers (SCTA)—, which began circulating on October 22, once again left a former aeronautical worker under the microscope.
The Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO established that the message questions that the Center for Aeronautical Studies (CEA) to a Colombian who had been captured and extradited to the United States for drug trafficking, where he was imprisoned for several years and is now a controller instructor.
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Union members and history
The Aeronautical Studies Center depends on Aerocivil. Photo:Archive
“The ex-convict has been teaching at the CEA all this year without an IET license (Ground Instructor License), and with what example and what experiences is someone who dedicated himself to drug trafficking when he was an active Aerocivil controller going to transmit to the next controllers?“, reads one of the sections of the statement that began to be sent to authorities.
The Aerocivil unionists refer to Julio Hernando Moya Buitrago, who according to public records was captured in 2010 and convicted in the United States of conspiracy to import cocaine.
EL TIEMPO published at the time that he was captured by the Police in the framework of the ‘Borders’ operation and that he was allegedly responsible for falsifying flight plans to facilitate illicit takeoffs and entry of aircraft.
In addition to that background, He assures that he is exercising the role of instructor without an Air Traffic Controller license and that he does not have another suitable document to teach classes. In fact, one of the union members told EL TIEMPO that the CEA depends directly on Aerocivil and It is subject to inspection and surveillance by the Ministry of Education, which has not even gone into verifying the information.
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The instructor’s defense
The air traffic controller’s representative issued a clarification about the process. Photo:THE TIME
After verifying the information provided by union members, the EL TIEMPO Investigative Unit consulted the well-known criminal lawyer Julio César Alzate, the instructor’s attorney, and began by confirming that, indeed, his client was convicted in the United States. but he was emphatic that he never accepted charges and that he has been free since February 2024.
“The defense in the United States questioned the existence of conclusive material elements that directly demonstrated his participation in illicit activities. Reference was also made to testimonial statements whose context and evidentiary value must be examined from the original court documents.“said the lawyer and expressed it in a clarifying letter in response to the union members’ statement.
And he added: “It is important to specify that the man was not convicted in Colombia for these events and that, according to the information available, he does not have a criminal record in our country related to them. Their situation must be examined based on official documents, distinguishing between the facts investigated, the charges made, the evidence debated and the decisions actually adopted by the American justice system.“.
The instructor’s lawyer says that he has experience, especially in the El Dorado environment. Photo:Archive
Besides, stated that they are asking that the content of the information that is circulating between unions be verified, its origin and traceability established to the extent legally appropriate.
In the same sense, a person close to the air instructor told EL TIEMPO that the instructor deserves a second chance and maintains that he is innocent for the facts for which he was convicted and that he returned to the Aerocivil because they called him from the entity: “They asked him to introduce himself because they had known him for years.”
The resolution from last January in which the instructor was appointed. Photo:THE TIME
And, as he said, the IET and CTA licenses are being processed and are awaiting a resolution: “He is not working irregularly. There are guidelines in his contract that allow him not to have it.”
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Union heads speak
Spokespeople for the Acdecta union spoke about the instructor’s case. Photo:Accdecta / iStock
Finally, the criminal lawyer Alzate, alluding to the right to a good name and privacy, stressed: “Don Julio Hernando Moya Buitrago has a professional career of more than 23 years in the Colombian aeronautical sector, as an air traffic controller and supervisor, particularly in the operational environment of El Dorado. Their experience and knowledge can represent a valuable contribution to new generations of air traffic controllers, always within the applicable legal, technical and medical requirements (…) No anonymous accusation should replace institutional procedures or become a permanent social condemnation that prevents an impartial assessment of your capabilities and current situation.“.
THE TIME communicated since last Thursday with the Acdecta union and its spokesperson assured that the chat that is circulating is not official.
And later they sent a statement in which they assured that, from the union, they have no interference in the selection, hiring or hiring processes of the CEA teaching staff: “These decisions correspond to the competent departments of Civil Aeronautics, responsible for verifying the legal, technical, academic and licensing requirements.”
And, mentioning a couple of union leaders who appear mentioned in the matter, they added: “It is worrying that an alleged administrative questioning includes attacks on union leaders without demonstrating a relationship between their functions and the aforementioned events.”
And, after rejecting the use of the name of their union and the affiliates, they concluded by saying that, To date, they have not received complaints, requests or formal complaints from their associates related to the facts presented.
An official statement is expected from the Aerocivil and the CEA.
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
u.investigativa@eltiempo.com
@UinvestigativaET
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