AI pilots’ stationing to be corrected

New Delhi: Ajit Singh-led aviation ministry's refusal to give in to the 'blackmail' by erstwhile Air India's warring pilots has finally given the airline management the courage to station pilots in different cities as per AI's operational requirements. Ever since Delhi's terminal 3 became the national hub of AI two years ago, 75% of the flights have been operating from here while 75% pilots are based in Mumbai. So AI pilots fly in large number as passengers from Mumbai to operate flights from Delhi and return the same way later on.
"It has now been decided that AI Express pilots will be based in Kochi. Pilots of AI (referring to both erstwhile AI and Indian Airlines) will be stationed in Delhi as per the requirements here to avoid the massive wastage of time and money in ferrying pilots to operate flights from Mumbai to the capital. Also when pilots fly as passengers for operating flights from another place, that flying time also goes towards their flying duty time limitation and limits their operational time," said a senior official.
09/07/12 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Air India Jul 2012, airports Jul 2012