Pilots decide to form joint forum for air safety

Mumbai: Airline pilots in India rarely have a say in government decisions that impact air safety. However, this could soon be a thing of the past as pilots from Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines decided last week to form a common forum of pilots in India to take up issues on air safety the way their counterparts do in the rest of the world.
The International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations (IFALPA) has a history of providing technical expertise to airlines in Singapore and China. It is part of joint forums in countries like the US, the UK, Germany and Australia.
"There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Indian pilots can benefit from our studies, investigations, reports on issues pertaining to air-safety and safe operations,'' IFALPA president Captain Carlos Limon said while he was in the city to attend the joint meeting called by Indian pilots. "We have chalked out a road map for the formation of this umbrella body. Our role will be limited to providing technical know-how on various aviation issues as demanded by our member organisation in India,'' IFALPA executive vice-president (professional affairs) Capt George Fongern said.
Only the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG), comprising Air India pilots, is affiliated to IFALPA as of now. AI, Jet and Kingfisher Airline pilots have already decided to come together and efforts are now on to get pilots from other Indian carriers to also join in.
11/02/09 Manju V/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Feb 2009, Safety Feb 2009