Mumbai: The DGCA's introduction of strict requirements on body weight, vision and hearing for cabin crew has rendered at least 600 Air India air hostesses who otherwise have sterling track records unfit for flying, crew members of the national carrier have alleged.
Air India's cabin crew union, the All India Cabin Crew Association (AICCA), has written to the DGCA with the contention that since they are not licensed by the aviation regulator, they cannot be forced to obey its directives.
"Till the cabin crew are not licensed in accordance with your own civil aviation requirements (CAR) of March 2010 as applicable to licensed categories (like pilots), we cannot be governed by the DGCA or its requirements and will continue to follow the bilaterals entered into by us and Air India," a letter signed by the AICCA president Ashwin Ullalkar said.
Ullalkar was terminated from service by Air India on April 25 for shooting off a letter to the Civil Aviation Safety of Authority (CASA) complaining that they do not get sufficient rest on flights to Australia. The letter blamed DGCA officials of doing a cut and paste job without looking at rules framed by them earlier.
"You have not informed us as to how the cabin crew of any Indian carrier is governed by DGCA," the crew wrote. Requirements issued by the aviation watchdog with regard to the licensing of cabin crew in March 2010 are yet to be implemented, they alleged, adding that the DGCA issuing such requirements to the cabin crew reflected a 'total non-application of mind'.
"As employees of an operator, we are also governed by the service rules of the operator and requirements cannot be changed unilaterally either by such CAR or on the whims of the DGCA," said an air hostess.
13/05/14 Aditya Anand/Mumbai Mirror
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Air India's cabin crew union, the All India Cabin Crew Association (AICCA), has written to the DGCA with the contention that since they are not licensed by the aviation regulator, they cannot be forced to obey its directives.
"Till the cabin crew are not licensed in accordance with your own civil aviation requirements (CAR) of March 2010 as applicable to licensed categories (like pilots), we cannot be governed by the DGCA or its requirements and will continue to follow the bilaterals entered into by us and Air India," a letter signed by the AICCA president Ashwin Ullalkar said.
Ullalkar was terminated from service by Air India on April 25 for shooting off a letter to the Civil Aviation Safety of Authority (CASA) complaining that they do not get sufficient rest on flights to Australia. The letter blamed DGCA officials of doing a cut and paste job without looking at rules framed by them earlier.
"You have not informed us as to how the cabin crew of any Indian carrier is governed by DGCA," the crew wrote. Requirements issued by the aviation watchdog with regard to the licensing of cabin crew in March 2010 are yet to be implemented, they alleged, adding that the DGCA issuing such requirements to the cabin crew reflected a 'total non-application of mind'.
"As employees of an operator, we are also governed by the service rules of the operator and requirements cannot be changed unilaterally either by such CAR or on the whims of the DGCA," said an air hostess.
13/05/14 Aditya Anand/Mumbai Mirror
