Lalu's pilot son-in-law grounded

New Delhi: Lalu Prasad's dipping political fortunes seem to be casting a long shadow. The RJD chief's son-in-law, Vikram Yadav, a pilot with Air India (domestic), has been reportedly grounded on Tuesday for flying as an additional crew member (ACM) in the cockpit of the Patna-Delhi flight, IC 408.
Pilots of the erstwhile IA have been flying as ACM — when they are dressed in their uniform and sit on the third seat (called jump seat) of the cockpit, behind the pilot and co-pilot — after getting due clearance from the airline.
However, Yadav was taken off flying duty after landing in Delhi. Sources said he had taken permission to fly as an ACM; the airline refused comment, calling it an ``internal matter''.
ACM has been one of the perks given to IA pilots for decades, under which they travel in the cockpit in full uniform when they need to go on short leave or personal travel, albeit after getting clearance from their GM (operations). ``This does not cost anything to the airline as an ACM does not occupy a passenger seat, whether in business or economy. It's called a dead-head as there's no cost to company and the pilot just comes, sits and goes,'' said a pilot.
Yadav, till recently, was the general secretary of the all-powerful Indian Commercial Pilots' Association. While the airline did not say if Yadav broke any rule for which he was reportedly grounded, the merged Air India-Indian Airlines has been trying to rein in its pilots. It recently barred them from flying business class while going from one place to other to operate a flight. The ICPA has been opposing this move and is in talks with the management.
05/06/09 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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

Categories: Air India Domestic Jun 2009, NACIL Jun 2009