AI cancels flights due to shortage of pilots

Kolkata: Air India had to cancel seven Airbus 320 and Airbus 319 flights from Friday to Monday for shortage of pilots. And the shortage, surprisingly, is due to a poor roster.
The airline has 20 pilots (commanders) based in Kolkata. According to stipulations of flight and the duty time limitations (FDTL) a pilot could fly 240 hours at the most in three months. The stipulated flying hour of most of the pilots till 31 March was completed by Friday. Some of the pilots are on leave. As a result there was no pilot available for one flight on Friday for which AI had to combine its Chennai and Bangalore flights. On Saturday, flights to Jaipur, Bagdogra and Bangalore had to be cancelled. However, passengers were endorsed on other flights. On Sunday the flight to Kathmandu had to be cancelled and passengers suffered. Today the flight to Silchar had to be cancelled.
31/04/08 The Statesman

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Categories: Air India Domestic Apr 2008, NACIL Apr 2008