Pilots' Dreamliner dream sours

The Air India-Boeing 787 Dreamliner issue has turned messier. After running into labour problems with its pilots and compensation issues with the aircraft manufacturer for delayed deliveries, the national carrier has now taken a decision that has angered pilots and also raised flight safety questions.
"Air India has asked its pilots, both from the erstwhile Indian Airlines (IC) and Air India (AI), trained to fly the B787, to go back and do a refresher course to fly (old) aircraft," said an airline source. It is a stop-gap arrangement as Air India and Boeing need to sort out the quantum of compensation payable for delayed deliveries. The problem with the decision comes when applied to IC pilots. Unlike AI pilots, who used to fly Boeing aircraft, IC pilots flew Airbus before they underwent B787 training. Unlike AI pilots, IC pilots have refused to go back to flying Airbus, citing flight safety reasons. So, Air India cannot utilize these 32 IC pilots till the Dreamliner joins its fleet, but will have to pay them salaries. The airline did not respond to a questionnaire sent by TOI.
06/07/12 Manju V/Times of India

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Categories: Air India Jul 2012, Foreign Jul 2012, New Jul 2012