'AI Express lacks engineering staff, doctors'

New Delhi: Air India Express seriously lacked engineering staff and did not have a permanent doctor at the Mangalore airport to conduct pre-flight medical checks on the pilots and the cabin crew operating flights from there, the Court of Inquiry (COI) on Mangalore air crash was informed on Tuesday. "We
are short of staff and for engineering work and spares we are totally dependent on the Air India," a senior Air India Express official said before the COI in New Delhi.
The six-member COI was set up to find out the causes of the crash of Air India Express flight IX-812 at Mangalore airport on May 22 while returning from Dubai, killing 158 people.
Deposing before the COI, the official said that Air India Express was promised by the parent company, National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL), that they would recruit the staff for them "but till date we have got only three staff".
Air India Express is the low cost arm of the national carrier which operates most of its flights to Gulf countries.
During the hearing, one of the members of COI observed that the airline had not faced any major technical problems or snag as the aircrafts were new but they should get the adequate number of staff.
The budget carrier of Air India did not have a permanent doctor at the Mangalore's Bajpe International Airport before the crash of IX-812.
She also said it was hard to find a doctor even on contract basis, as the odd working hours was the biggest problem for them.
She admitted that no medical records of the expat pilots were kept with the airlines, as they were not governed by the company rules and they have different rules related to medical and other leaves.
07/09/10 Press Trust Of India/Hindustan Times

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Categories: Air India Budget Sep 2010, NACIL Sep 2010, p, Safety Sep 2010