We’re jobless, but Air India hiring: Pilots

Mumbai: The battle between the Indian Commercial Pilots Associaton (ICPA) and national carrier Air India (AI) is hotting up. While the airline recently advertised for recruitment of pilots for its subsidiary Alliance Air, the ICPA has termed it as waste of public money as its members are underutilised and can be used for flying Alliance Air aircraft Airbus 320 and Airbus 330.
On Thursday, the ICPA had a meeting with AI board of directors and joint aviation secretary, Prashant Shukul. “Why does Air India need pilots for their existing fleet of A320 family airplanes when their utilisation is less than 55 hours and contrary to what was decided in the meeting with you on May 7, where you had very clearly stated that every effort will be made to increase the flying so thatpilots are utilised at least for 75 hrs,” said the ICPA. AI has total 1,600 pilots out of which 850 are from erstwhile Indian. While the AI commanders fly for 80 hours per month, erstwhile Indian pilots are utilised for 49 hours to 55hours maximum. This greatly reduces the Indian pilot’s salary.
The ICPA also expressed the willingness to operate other Boeing aircraft of AI if need be. “Now both the airlines have a common code, have common aircraft manual. Recruiting expats is a scam,” it said.
Moreover, globally aircraft utilisation is 13 hours while the ICPA alleges that in AI it is nine hours per day.
20/05/11 Naveeta Singh/Daily News & Analysis

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Air India May 2011