No interim relief for overworking AI, Jet crews from HC

Mumbai: The flight crews of Air India and Jet Airways will continue to work ten hours extra each week for the time being, as the Bombay High Court today declined to grant them any interim relief before DGCA brings in new rules. The division bench of Justices D K Deshmukh and N D Deshpande was hearing petitions filed by the pilots' unions of both airlines, challenging DGCA 's orders on Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) that regulate flight duty time limitation.
A circular in May 2008 brought back 1992 CAR resulting in a hike of flight duty time from 30 to 40 hours a week. The petitioners contended that though flight duty time was increased, the rest-time was not proportionately increased and this could compromise the safety of air passengers. But Additional Solicitor General Darius Khambata representing the Union Government, said revival of 1992 CAR was an interim arrangement, and new CAR will be in place within five months after report of an experts committee comes in. High Court therefore said that since DGCA is ready to give a hearing to petitioners, latter should give a representation to DGCA in two weeks, after which Airlines too can give their own representations.
25/08/10 PTI/IBN Live

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Categories: Jet Airways Aug 2010, NACIL Aug 2010