A former director of Civil Aviation yesterday appeared in Magistrates' Court on charges of falsifying documents attesting that a $20 million aircraft was fit to fly.

James Pitman, 54 of Sunning Lane, Warwick pleaded not guilty to falsifying and uttering a certificate of airworthiness on November 23, 2001 for a Dassault Falcon 50 aircraft - suggesting the private jet had passed airport regulation requirements.

Court sources said that the charges were likened to faking documents for a car saying it was legal to drive on the road, when in fact it had not passed TCD requirements.

Pitman, who held the post of director of Civil Aviation from 1983 to 1995, owns Island-based aviation consultant firm Badger International Group.

Magistrate William Francis, who called the charges Pitman was facing "very serious", set a trial date of May 28, and released him on $3,000 bail.

Lawyer Paul Harshaw appeared on behalf of Pitman.