The US Army has temporarily grounded all pilots who are not involved in critical missions in the wake of two recent helicopter crashes that left 12 soldiers dead.

The order came from Army Chief of Staff James McConville asking the aviators to remain grounded “until they complete the required training,” the army said in a statement, according to CNN.

“The safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel,” McConville said in a statement.

Lieutenant-Colonel Terence Kelley, a US Army spokesperson, said the suspension of air operations will take place with immediate effect on Friday and shall remain until the pilots undergo required safety and training protocols. &nbsp;

Army pilots, at McConville’s direction, “will focus on safety and training protocols to ensure our pilots and crews have the knowledge, training and awareness to safely complete their assigned mission,” the statement added.

For active-duty units, the training is to take place between May 1 and 5. Army National Guard and Reserve units will have until May 31 to complete the training.

The new measures come days after two AH-64 Apache helicopters collided mid-air near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, killing&nbsp;three soldiers and wounding another.

Two of the soldiers died at the scene and the third died while being transported to a hospital, according to a release from the US Army’s 11th Airborne Division.

<h2>Four U.S. Army helicopters crash in a matter of weeks; All non-critical aircraft grounded</h2>

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However, not much is known about the crash that took place in the remote interior of the state which is 402 km (250 miles) from Anchorage.

“This is an incredible loss for these soldiers’ families, their fellow soldiers, and for the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division, said in the release.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to their families, friends and loved ones, and we are making the full resources of the Army available to support them.”

Thursday’s deadly collision follows the crash of HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in March 30 during a nighttime training mission near Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the Army said.

According to reports, the helicopters were conducting a routine training mission when they crashed at approximately 10 pm (local time) in an open field across from a residential area. All nine of the service members aboard the two aircraft were killed.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The US Army has temporarily grounded all pilots who are not involved in critical missions in the wake of two recent helicopter crashes that left 12 soldiers dead.

The US Army has temporarily grounded all pilots who are not involved in critical missions in the wake of two recent helicopter crashes that left 12 soldiers dead. The order came from Army Chief of Staff James McConville asking the aviators to remain grounded “until they complete the required training,” the army said in a statement, according to CNN. “The safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel,” McConville said in a statement. Lieutenant-Colonel Terence Kelley, a US Army spokesperson, said the suspension of air operations will take place with immediate effect on Friday and shall remain until the pilots undergo required safety and training protocols. Army pilots, at McConville’s direction, “will focus on safety and training protocols to ensure our pilots and crews have the knowledge, training and awareness to safely complete their assigned mission,” the statement added. For active-duty units, the training is to take place between May 1 and 5. Army National Guard and Reserve units will have until May 31 to complete the training. The new measures come days after two AH-64 Apache helicopters collided mid-air near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, killing three soldiers and wounding another. Two of the soldiers died at the scene and the third died while being transported to a hospital, according to a release from the US Army’s 11th Airborne Division. Four U.S. Army helicopters crash in a matter of weeks; All non-critical aircraft grounded However, not much is known about the crash that took place in the remote interior of the state which is 402 km (250 miles) from Anchorage. “This is an incredible loss for these soldiers’ families, their fellow soldiers, and for the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division, said in the release. “Our hearts and prayers go out to their families, friends and loved ones, and we are making the full resources of the Army available to support them.” Thursday’s deadly collision follows the crash of HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in March 30 during a nighttime training mission near Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the Army said. According to reports, the helicopters were conducting a routine training mission when they crashed at approximately 10 pm (local time) in an open field across from a residential area. All nine of the service members aboard the two aircraft were killed. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US Army grounds pilots temporarily following two helicopter crashes for safety protocol training

The skies are about to get busier as Air India announces a grand plan to hire 1,000 new pilots for its fleet expansion. Watch this video to know more.

Air India to hire more pilots amidst salary structure changes

There is a shortage of pilots in Pakistan which is forcing the travellers to cancel their flights. The Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority told a senate panel that all the pilots of Pakistan International Agency wanted to leave the national carrier citing tax cut as the reason.

Pakistan International Airlines losing pilots, tax cut seen as reason behind quitting

Speaking on the sidelines&nbsp;of an event organised by the&nbsp;Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the United States-based aircraft maker&nbsp;Boeing said that India might require 31,000 pilots and around 26,000 mechanics over the next two decades amid the growing order book of the aircraft original equipment manufacturers, said a report by news agency PTI. &nbsp;

“India is going to need over 31,000 pilots and 26,000 mechanics over the next 20 years to take care of the aircraft coming in. This is as important a part of the Indian growth story as the aircraft (orders),” Boeing India President Salil Gupte told reporters. He also spoke about how the South Asian region is expected to remain the fastest-growing market globally over the next several years.

Gupte also seemingly hailed the government’s move to let the Tata Group take over Air India and said it will transform the Indian aerospace industry. This comes months after the now Tata Group-owned Air India placed an order of 470 planes with both Boeing and European aviation giant&nbsp;Airbus. Speaking about the order, Gupte said, it is a massive deal for India as a nation and that the country is getting representation on the global stage, reported PTI.&nbsp;

Boeing’s India president also said that considering the country’s air traffic growth, the focus should be on making infrastructure robust, both hard infrastructure which includes airports as well as critical infrastructure, which includes pilots and so on.&nbsp;

India is a huge market for Boeing's narrow-body aircraft, said Gupte adding that at least 90 per cent of the market in the next two decades&nbsp;is going to be a narrow body market and "we expect we will be successful in competing for those every single campaign (aircraft order).”

“India is the gateway like China and once it will grow to be (in) the top four economies of the world, it will be more than a hub,” said Boeing India’s president, as per PTI, and spoke about how New Delhi will become more than a hub for aviation given its sheer size and scale as the country’s economy grow.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Speaking on the sidelines of an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the United States-based aircraft maker Boeing said that India might require 31,000 pilots and around 26,000 mechanics over the next two decades amid the growing order book of the aircraft original equipment manufacturers, said a report by news agency PTI.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the United States-based aircraft maker Boeing said that India might require 31,000 pilots and around 26,000 mechanics over the next two decades amid the growing order book of the aircraft original equipment manufacturers, said a report by news agency PTI. “India is going to need over 31,000 pilots and 26,000 mechanics over the next 20 years to take care of the aircraft coming in. This is as important a part of the Indian growth story as the aircraft (orders),” Boeing India President Salil Gupte told reporters. He also spoke about how the South Asian region is expected to remain the fastest-growing market globally over the next several years. Gupte also seemingly hailed the government’s move to let the Tata Group take over Air India and said it will transform the Indian aerospace industry. This comes months after the now Tata Group-owned Air India placed an order of 470 planes with both Boeing and European aviation giant Airbus. Speaking about the order, Gupte said, it is a massive deal for India as a nation and that the country is getting representation on the global stage, reported PTI. Boeing’s India president also said that considering the country’s air traffic growth, the focus should be on making infrastructure robust, both hard infrastructure which includes airports as well as critical infrastructure, which includes pilots and so on. India is a huge market for Boeing's narrow-body aircraft, said Gupte adding that at least 90 per cent of the market in the next two decades is going to be a narrow body market and "we expect we will be successful in competing for those every single campaign (aircraft order).” “India is the gateway like China and once it will grow to be (in) the top four economies of the world, it will be more than a hub,” said Boeing India’s president, as per PTI, and spoke about how New Delhi will become more than a hub for aviation given its sheer size and scale as the country’s economy grow. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India might require over 30,000 pilots, some 26,000 mechanics in 20 years: Boeing

Military pilots have high rates of cancer, and for the first time, a <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23713702-military-pilots-cancer-study">Pentagon study </a>has revealed that the ground crews who fuel, maintain, and launch those aircraft are also becoming sick.&nbsp;

Retired military aviators who had been raising concerns about the number of air and ground crew personnel they knew who had cancer for years had long wanted the data. They were informed that past military investigations had found no evidence that they were more at risk than the American population as a whole, as reported by the Associated Press.&nbsp;

The Pentagon found that air crew members had an 87&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;higher rate of melanoma and a 39 per cent&nbsp;higher rate of thyroid cancer, as well as a 16 per cent&nbsp;higher rate of prostate cancer for men and a 16&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;higher rate of breast cancer for women, in its year-long study of nearly 900,000 service members who flew or worked on military aircraft between 1992 and 2017. The risk of all cancers was 24&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;higher overall among flight crews.&nbsp;

The study found that while women had a seven&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;higher breast cancer risk, ground crews had a 19&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;higher rate of brain and nervous system cancers, a 15&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;&nbsp;higher rate of thyroid cancer, and a nine&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;&nbsp;higher rate of kidney or renal cancers. The total rate of all cancers increased by three&nbsp;per cent.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/3d-bioprinting-in-healthcare-this-technology-can-repair-organs-inside-the-human-body-573782">3D bioprinting in healthcare: This technology can eliminate the need for invasive surgeries</a>

Additionally, some good news was reported. Lung cancer rates were much lower among ground and air crews, and air crews also had reduced rates of bladder and colon cancer.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Did Trump pay adult-film star to not discuss the encounter? New York braces for drama | Details

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As observed by&nbsp;the Pentagon, the latest study was one of the biggest and most comprehensive studies to date. This study looked across all of the services and at both air and ground troops, in contrast to a prior study that just examined Air Force pilots and discovered some increased rates of cancer.&nbsp;

The research found that when people in the crew were diagnosed with cancer, they had a higher chance of surviving than people in the general population. The research suggested that this was because crew members were more likely to be in better health due to their military fitness requirements and were diagnosed with cancer earlier due to regular required medical checkups.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Military pilots have high rates of cancer, and for the first time, a Pentagon study has revealed that the ground crews who fuel, maintain, and launch those aircraft are also becoming sick.

Military pilots have high rates of cancer, and for the first time, a Pentagon study has revealed that the ground crews who fuel, maintain, and launch those aircraft are also becoming sick. Retired military aviators who had been raising concerns about the number of air and ground crew personnel they knew who had cancer for years had long wanted the data. They were informed that past military investigations had found no evidence that they were more at risk than the American population as a whole, as reported by the Associated Press. The Pentagon found that air crew members had an 87 per cent higher rate of melanoma and a 39 per cent higher rate of thyroid cancer, as well as a 16 per cent higher rate of prostate cancer for men and a 16 per cent higher rate of breast cancer for women, in its year-long study of nearly 900,000 service members who flew or worked on military aircraft between 1992 and 2017. The risk of all cancers was 24 per cent higher overall among flight crews. The study found that while women had a seven per cent higher breast cancer risk, ground crews had a 19 per cent higher rate of brain and nervous system cancers, a 15 per cent higher rate of thyroid cancer, and a nine per cent higher rate of kidney or renal cancers. The total rate of all cancers increased by three per cent. ALSO READ | 3D bioprinting in healthcare: This technology can eliminate the need for invasive surgeries Additionally, some good news was reported. Lung cancer rates were much lower among ground and air crews, and air crews also had reduced rates of bladder and colon cancer. ALSO WATCH | Did Trump pay adult-film star to not discuss the encounter? New York braces for drama | Details As observed by the Pentagon, the latest study was one of the biggest and most comprehensive studies to date. This study looked across all of the services and at both air and ground troops, in contrast to a prior study that just examined Air Force pilots and discovered some increased rates of cancer. The research found that when people in the crew were diagnosed with cancer, they had a higher chance of surviving than people in the general population. The research suggested that this was because crew members were more likely to be in better health due to their military fitness requirements and were diagnosed with cancer earlier due to regular required medical checkups. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Pentagon study finds higher cancer rates in military pilots, ground crew

New report claims that the aircraft was deliberately downed by the pilots. it has been 8 years and there are various theories that still surrounds the disappearance of MH370.

What happened to MH370 flight?

A Saudi Air Force jet crashed at the King Abdulaziz Air Base training grounds due to a technical breakdown during a routine drill, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Monday.

According to the report which cited a ministry of defence statement, the incident took place on Sunday. The two pilots flying the F-15S fighter jet safely evacuated before the crash in the kingdom’s eastern province.

Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman of the ministry, said that the crew safely ejected and there were no injuries or losses on the ground.

"No injuries or ground damages have been reported…An investigation committee has commenced its tasks to uncover the details and reasons behind this incident," Al Maliki was quoted as saying.

The F-15 Eagle fighter jet is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed by American aerospace firm McDonnell Douglas, which is now part of Boeing.

Watch |&nbsp;UN Climate Summit: UK PM Rishi Sunak to address COP27 Summit

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As of 2022, Royal Saudi Air Force has 211 F-15 Eagle fighter jets in operation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-attack-register-fir-within-24-hours-pak-sc-tells-punjab-police-531811" hreflang="en">Imran Khan attack: Register FIR within 24 hours, Pak SC tells Punjab police</a>

In 2010, the Saudi kingdom and US inked a deal for the purchase of the Boeing-produced aircraft as part of a $29 billion foreign military sales agreement (FMS).

The FMS programme entailed the delivery of 84 F-15S&nbsp;Aircraft, associated spare parts, stores, simulators, training, technical documentation and base construction, as well as logistical and programme support.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-external-affairs-minister-s-jaishankar-embarks-on-russia-trip-ahead-of-the-g-20-summit-531767" hreflang="en">India: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar embarks on Russia trip, ahead of the G-20 summit</a>

The aircraft was delivered by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), which manages all FMS cases for the Air Force.

The completion also supports the US’ National Defense Strategy that seeks to restore and maintain its competitive edge over rivals by bolstering partnerships.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Saudi Air Force jet crashed at the King Abdulaziz Air Base training grounds due to a technical breakdown during a routine drill, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Monday.

A Saudi Air Force jet crashed at the King Abdulaziz Air Base training grounds due to a technical breakdown during a routine drill, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Monday. According to the report which cited a ministry of defence statement, the incident took place on Sunday. The two pilots flying the F-15S fighter jet safely evacuated before the crash in the kingdom’s eastern province. Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman of the ministry, said that the crew safely ejected and there were no injuries or losses on the ground. "No injuries or ground damages have been reported…An investigation committee has commenced its tasks to uncover the details and reasons behind this incident," Al Maliki was quoted as saying. The F-15 Eagle fighter jet is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed by American aerospace firm McDonnell Douglas, which is now part of Boeing. Watch | UN Climate Summit: UK PM Rishi Sunak to address COP27 Summit As of 2022, Royal Saudi Air Force has 211 F-15 Eagle fighter jets in operation. Also read | Imran Khan attack: Register FIR within 24 hours, Pak SC tells Punjab police In 2010, the Saudi kingdom and US inked a deal for the purchase of the Boeing-produced aircraft as part of a $29 billion foreign military sales agreement (FMS). The FMS programme entailed the delivery of 84 F-15S Aircraft, associated spare parts, stores, simulators, training, technical documentation and base construction, as well as logistical and programme support. Also read | India: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar embarks on Russia trip, ahead of the G-20 summit The aircraft was delivered by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), which manages all FMS cases for the Air Force. The completion also supports the US’ National Defense Strategy that seeks to restore and maintain its competitive edge over rivals by bolstering partnerships. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Saudi Air Force’s F-15S fighter jet crashes during drill, pilots escape unhurt

Taiwan has sought to allay concerns and stated that there are no known instances of former Taiwan Air Force pilots providing training to China's military.

Taiwan: No Taiwanese air force pilots trained PLA troops

A day after it was revealed that former British pilots were being poached by the Chinese military to train its troops, Australia has said it will also investigate such reports.

A day after it was revealed that former British pilots were being poached by the Chinese military to train its troops, Australia has said it will also investigate such reports. Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles said he had ordered the department to investigate claims that ex-Australian military pilots were recruited by the flight school, based in South Africa to work in China. "I would be deeply shocked and disturbed to hear that there were personnel who were being lured by a pay check from a foreign state above serving their own country. I have asked the department to investigate these claims and come back to my office with clear advice on this matter," said Marles. WATCH | Pilots hired to help China understand how western planes operate × As reported by WION, China is attempting to learn the ways of the western militaries, in case a conflict with Taiwan or any other country comes to heed. Most of the pilots are being recruited through headhunters, with a flying academy named Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) acting as the centre of operations. Read more: China luring former British pilots with hefty paycheques to help its military: Report According to the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), the pilots lured by China appear to have flown Typhoons, Jaguars, Harriers and Tornados The sources say that the British military first became aware of the issue, back in 2019 when a small batch of former military pilots was hired. After the pandemic struck, the movement was stopped as air travel became next to possible. However, since then, China has quietly ramped up its hiring process yet again. Yesterday, the British Ministery of Defence shot a warning saying pilots who were involved with China risked facing prosecution under the Official Secrets Act, and a national security bill would provide other paths to prosecution. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

After UK, Australia to also investigate reports that China hired its ex-military pilots

Fed Express pilots and management said they have jointly filed for federal mediation with the National Mediation Board for assistance with contract negotiations that began in May 2021.

World Business Watch: FedEx and pilots to pursue government mediation for contract negotiations

Approximately 66% of the 542 Indian pilots who participated in a recent study on "daytime sleepiness" acknowledged falling asleep in the cockpit without alerting the rest of the crew.

66% of Indian pilots fall asleep in the cockpit during flights: India Safety Culture Survey

Approximately 66% of the 542 Indian pilots who participated in a recent study on "daytime sleepiness" acknowledged falling asleep in the cockpit without alerting the rest of the crew. Molly Gambhir tells you the risks associated with these findings.

Gravitas: 66% of Indian pilots doze off in the cockpit, reveals survey

Let us take a look at stories generating interest across WION's social media channels.

Trending on WION | Source: Majority of Indian pilots doze off in cockpit due to fatigue

German airline Lufthansa and pilots' union VC said on Tuesday they had reached a deal in a wage dispute, averting a second strike that had been planned for later this week.

Lufthansa and pilots agree on wage deal

For people travelling on Flight ET343, August 15 was an experience that was both harrowing and miraculous. Pilots of the flight, which was travelling from Khartoum to Addis Ababa, apparently fell asleep at 37,000 feet in the air and missed their landing.

As per the Aviation Herald, the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 continued past its&nbsp; scheduled destination: the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and didn't approach the runway. In spite of multiple tries, Air Traffic Control (ATC) was unable to reach the crew.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pay-related-strikes-bring-londons-transport-network-to-a-halt-508474" hreflang="en">Pay-related strikes bring London's transport network to a halt</a>

When the plane overflew the runway, the autopilot mode was disengaged, and "the disconnect wailer woke the crew up, who then manoeuvred the aircraft for a safe landing on the runway about 25 minutes after overflying the runway."

Alex Macheras, an aviation analyst, expressed his dismay at the "deeply concerning incident" on Twitter, suggesting that pilot fatigue might be to blame.

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Deeply concerning incident at Africa’s largest airline — Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ET343?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ET343</a> was still at cruising altitude of 37,000ft by the time it reached destination Addis Ababa 
 
Why hadn’t it started to descend for landing? Both pilots were asleep. <a href="https://t.co/cPPMsVHIJD">https://t.co/cPPMsVHIJD</a> <a href="https://t.co/RpnxsdtRBf">pic.twitter.com/RpnxsdtRBf</a>
— Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexInAir/status/1560386182055428097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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As per CNN, this incident comes just months after a warning by Southwest Airlines Pilots Association&nbsp;(SWAPA), which cautioned that "Fatigue, both acute and cumulative, has become Southwest Airlines' number-one safety threat."

Reportedly, the number of pilots who reported being unable to work due to exhaustion soared in the fall, including a 600 per cent rise in October, and hit "another staggering 330 per cent&nbsp;increase" in March, according to the union's letter to executives. SWAPA stated that "April is already setting fatigue records."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-airways-cuts-10300-more-flights-through-october-due-to-staff-shortages-495297">British Airways cuts 10,300 more flights through October due to staff shortages</a>

In the US, about 60 reports of mistakes or other incidences involving fatigue were submitted to the federal Aviation Safety Reporting System by pilots from all carriers in 2021.&nbsp;Some pilots reported feeling worn out from managing training duties. Others claimed that because of a personnel shortage, airline bosses requested them to oversee too many extra flights.

(With inputs from agencies)

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For people travelling on Flight ET343, August 15 was an experience that was both harrowing and miraculous. Pilots of the flight, which was travelling from Khartoum to Addis Ababa, apparently fell asleep at 37,000 feet in the air and missed their landing.

For people travelling on Flight ET343, August 15 was an experience that was both harrowing and miraculous. Pilots of the flight, which was travelling from Khartoum to Addis Ababa, apparently fell asleep at 37,000 feet in the air and missed their landing. As per the Aviation Herald, the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 continued past its scheduled destination: the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and didn't approach the runway. In spite of multiple tries, Air Traffic Control (ATC) was unable to reach the crew. Also read | Pay-related strikes bring London's transport network to a halt When the plane overflew the runway, the autopilot mode was disengaged, and "the disconnect wailer woke the crew up, who then manoeuvred the aircraft for a safe landing on the runway about 25 minutes after overflying the runway." Alex Macheras, an aviation analyst, expressed his dismay at the "deeply concerning incident" on Twitter, suggesting that pilot fatigue might be to blame. Deeply concerning incident at Africa’s largest airline — Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 #ET343 was still at cruising altitude of 37,000ft by the time it reached destination Addis Ababa Why hadn’t it started to descend for landing? Both pilots were asleep. https://t.co/cPPMsVHIJD pic.twitter.com/RpnxsdtRBf — Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) August 18, 2022 × As per CNN, this incident comes just months after a warning by Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), which cautioned that "Fatigue, both acute and cumulative, has become Southwest Airlines' number-one safety threat." Reportedly, the number of pilots who reported being unable to work due to exhaustion soared in the fall, including a 600 per cent rise in October, and hit "another staggering 330 per cent increase" in March, according to the union's letter to executives. SWAPA stated that "April is already setting fatigue records." Also read | British Airways cuts 10,300 more flights through October due to staff shortages In the US, about 60 reports of mistakes or other incidences involving fatigue were submitted to the federal Aviation Safety Reporting System by pilots from all carriers in 2021. Some pilots reported feeling worn out from managing training duties. Others claimed that because of a personnel shortage, airline bosses requested them to oversee too many extra flights. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Plane crew fall asleep at 37,000 feet, miss runway; Expert blames 'pilot fatigue'

The extensive of drones in the war between Russia and Ukraine and other modern conflicts is raising the question of just how much need there is for human pilots to fly expensive fighter jets and other aircraft or whether unmanned aerial vehicles could do the job. It's a debate that's been playing out for years in the real world. Could drones replace fighter pilots in future wars?

Tech in Trend | Could drone tech redefine what it means to be a 'Top Gun'

Air taxis could be the future of air mobility. The United States is working on certifying future 'Flying taxi' pilots. Is the US to have air taxis by 2024? Watch this report.

Certifying future 'flying taxi' pilots: The US aviation regulator shifts gears

A collision between two South Korean air force planes on Friday (April 1) resulted in death of four pilots, said authorities. The collision took place during a training exercise.&nbsp;

The air force said that the crash took place at 0437 GMT about 6 kilometers south of KT-1 &nbsp;airplane base in the southeastern city of Sacheon

"Despite their attempts at an emergency escape ... all of the two student pilots and two flight instructors aboard the two planes died," it said in a statement.

A total of 130 troops, 95 police officers and 60 firefighters as well as three helicopters have begun a search at the crash site, Yonhap news agency said, citing local government officials.

The air force said there were no civilian casualties but had formed a team to determine the cause of the accident and damage, including on the resident community.

The crash is one of several incidents involving South Korean air force jets this year.

In January, a pilot was killed in an F-5 fighter jet crash.

That accident took place shortly after the country grounded its entire fleet of advanced F-35 fighter jets following a major systems malfunction on one plane that forced a dramatic emergency landing.

The Korean peninsula remains in a technical state of war, as the armistice that ended the conflict in 1953 has yet to be replaced with a peace treaty.

(With inputs from agencies)

A collision between two South Korean air force planes on Friday (April 1) resulted in death of four pilots, said authorities. The collision took place during a training exercise.

A collision between two South Korean air force planes on Friday (April 1) resulted in death of four pilots, said authorities. The collision took place during a training exercise. The air force said that the crash took place at 0437 GMT about 6 kilometers south of KT-1 airplane base in the southeastern city of Sacheon "Despite their attempts at an emergency escape ... all of the two student pilots and two flight instructors aboard the two planes died," it said in a statement. A total of 130 troops, 95 police officers and 60 firefighters as well as three helicopters have begun a search at the crash site, Yonhap news agency said, citing local government officials. The air force said there were no civilian casualties but had formed a team to determine the cause of the accident and damage, including on the resident community. The crash is one of several incidents involving South Korean air force jets this year. In January, a pilot was killed in an F-5 fighter jet crash. That accident took place shortly after the country grounded its entire fleet of advanced F-35 fighter jets following a major systems malfunction on one plane that forced a dramatic emergency landing. The Korean peninsula remains in a technical state of war, as the armistice that ended the conflict in 1953 has yet to be replaced with a peace treaty. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea: Two air force planes collide mid-air killing four pilots

More than half of the world's airline pilots are no longer flying for a living amid the plunge in demand during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey, and those that are still flying feel less valued by their employers.

A poll of nearly 2,600 pilots by UK-based GOOSE Recruitment and industry publication FlightGlobal, released on Thursday, found only 43% were doing the job they had trained for, with 30% unemployed, 17% furloughed and 10% in non-flying roles.

Many pilots that are still flying have faced deteriorating working conditions. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, for example, instituted permanent pay cuts of up to 58%, and Turkish Airways and Singapore Airlines Ltd have temporarily lowering salaries.

"We can see the effect the pandemic has had on employed pilots too," GOOSE Recruitment chief executive officer and founder Mark Charman said in a statement. "Large numbers are feeling insecure about their jobs, an increased number are planning to look for new roles this year as well as many feeling less valued by their employers."

For the unemployed pilots in the survey, 84% said it was due to the pandemic. Before COVID-19 hit, there had been widespread pilot shortages that had driven up demand for aviators and led to improving pay and conditions.

Now, 82% of unemployed pilots would take a pay cut for a new opportunity, the survey found.

For those that have kept their jobs, pilots in Europe reported being the most stressed by COVID-19, with respondents citing the risk of catching the virus, disjointed rules and the possibility of being placed in quarantine during a rotation as among their concerns.

Forty per cent of pilots said their mental health had been affected by the pandemic, with the figure higher among younger pilots.

"The amount of stress and anxiety the pandemic has caused me has permanently scarred my outlook on life," one surveyed pilot said.

More than half of the world's airline pilots are no longer flying for a living amid the plunge in demand during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey, and those that are still flying feel less valued by their employers.

More than half of the world's airline pilots are no longer flying for a living amid the plunge in demand during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey, and those that are still flying feel less valued by their employers. A poll of nearly 2,600 pilots by UK-based GOOSE Recruitment and industry publication FlightGlobal, released on Thursday, found only 43% were doing the job they had trained for, with 30% unemployed, 17% furloughed and 10% in non-flying roles. Many pilots that are still flying have faced deteriorating working conditions. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, for example, instituted permanent pay cuts of up to 58%, and Turkish Airways and Singapore Airlines Ltd have temporarily lowering salaries. "We can see the effect the pandemic has had on employed pilots too," GOOSE Recruitment chief executive officer and founder Mark Charman said in a statement. "Large numbers are feeling insecure about their jobs, an increased number are planning to look for new roles this year as well as many feeling less valued by their employers." For the unemployed pilots in the survey, 84% said it was due to the pandemic. Before COVID-19 hit, there had been widespread pilot shortages that had driven up demand for aviators and led to improving pay and conditions. Now, 82% of unemployed pilots would take a pay cut for a new opportunity, the survey found. For those that have kept their jobs, pilots in Europe reported being the most stressed by COVID-19, with respondents citing the risk of catching the virus, disjointed rules and the possibility of being placed in quarantine during a rotation as among their concerns. Forty per cent of pilots said their mental health had been affected by the pandemic, with the figure higher among younger pilots. "The amount of stress and anxiety the pandemic has caused me has permanently scarred my outlook on life," one surveyed pilot said.

More than half of the world’s airline pilots no longer flying, finds survey

As part of increased defense cooperation, India &amp; Vietnam have agreed on joint training of pilots by the respective Air Forces and training of forces to be deployed in UN Peacekeeping missions.

This was one of the key outcomes of the virtual meet between India's defence minister Rajnath Singh and Vietnamese defence minister General Ngo Xuan Lich that took place on Friday.

A readout of the meet from Indian defense ministry said both ministers,"discussed various ongoing projects and the future trajectory of bilateral Defense engagements...(and) expressed satisfaction that despite the COVID-19 situation Defense exchanges between both Armed Forces have maintained positive momentum.".

Both countries are also looking at collaborating in a number of domains of defense cooperation like shipbuilding, surface and subsurface capacities like submarines at sea. New Delhi has already extended defence Lines of Credit worth USD 600 million to strengthen Vietnam’s domestic defence manufacturing.

The release explained out,"Ministers discussed collaboration in Defence Industry capability building, training and cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Operations"

India assured Vietnam, a key partner in Indo-Pacific that it remains committed to the modernization of the Vietnamese Armed Forces during. Both sides also signed the agreement on Hydrographic cooperation that will enable the sharing of Hydrographic data and assist in the production of navigational charts by both sides.

The Vietnamese defence minister invited the Indian defence minister for ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and also the meeting being hosted by Vietnam on 10 Dec through virtual mode.

As part of increased defense cooperation, India & Vietnam have agreed on joint training of pilots by the respective Air Forces and training of forces to be deployed in UN Peacekeeping missions.

As part of increased defense cooperation, India & Vietnam have agreed on joint training of pilots by the respective Air Forces and training of forces to be deployed in UN Peacekeeping missions. This was one of the key outcomes of the virtual meet between India's defence minister Rajnath Singh and Vietnamese defence minister General Ngo Xuan Lich that took place on Friday. A readout of the meet from Indian defense ministry said both ministers,"discussed various ongoing projects and the future trajectory of bilateral Defense engagements...(and) expressed satisfaction that despite the COVID-19 situation Defense exchanges between both Armed Forces have maintained positive momentum.". Both countries are also looking at collaborating in a number of domains of defense cooperation like shipbuilding, surface and subsurface capacities like submarines at sea. New Delhi has already extended defence Lines of Credit worth USD 600 million to strengthen Vietnam’s domestic defence manufacturing. The release explained out,"Ministers discussed collaboration in Defence Industry capability building, training and cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Operations" India assured Vietnam, a key partner in Indo-Pacific that it remains committed to the modernization of the Vietnamese Armed Forces during. Both sides also signed the agreement on Hydrographic cooperation that will enable the sharing of Hydrographic data and assist in the production of navigational charts by both sides. The Vietnamese defence minister invited the Indian defence minister for ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and also the meeting being hosted by Vietnam on 10 Dec through virtual mode.

India, Vietnam to jointly train pilots, collaborate in shipbuilding

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sacked 74 more employees for having fake degrees, engaging in drug smuggling and for poor performance, according to a media report.

Of the 74 employees sacked by the national carrier last month, 27 were dismissed for fake degrees, 31 for unauthorised measures, six for not following rules, four for damaging property, one for involvement in drug trafficking and three for stealing government records, PIA officials told the Express Tribune newspaper.

Another two employees were removed for 'illegal activities'.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-aviation-regulator-issues-show-cause-notices-to-193-pilots-following-licence-scandal-319432">Also read:&nbsp;Pakistan's aviation regulator issues show cause notices to 193 pilots following licence scandal</a>

Apart from the sacked personnel, four employees were demoted, and 11 others were penalised for various disciplinary issues, the report said.

Now, the number of employees sacked in the airline in the last three months stands at 177, according to the report.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-aviation-authority-suspends-15-more-pilots-having-fake-licenses-314253">Also read:&nbsp;Pakistan aviation authority suspends 15 more pilots having fake licenses</a>

The PIA has taken up a so-called 'cleaning up' exercise of its staff following Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan's probe report into the May 22 Karachi plane crash.

The domestic flight from Lahore to Karachi crashed in a residential area near the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.

The aviation minister's probe report blamed the pilots and the air traffic control for the tragedy that killed 97 people. The report called for wholesale changes in the operations of the airline.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sacked 74 more employees for having fake degrees, engaging in drug smuggling and for poor performance, according to a media report.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sacked 74 more employees for having fake degrees, engaging in drug smuggling and for poor performance, according to a media report. Of the 74 employees sacked by the national carrier last month, 27 were dismissed for fake degrees, 31 for unauthorised measures, six for not following rules, four for damaging property, one for involvement in drug trafficking and three for stealing government records, PIA officials told the Express Tribune newspaper. Another two employees were removed for 'illegal activities'. Also read: Pakistan's aviation regulator issues show cause notices to 193 pilots following licence scandal Apart from the sacked personnel, four employees were demoted, and 11 others were penalised for various disciplinary issues, the report said. Now, the number of employees sacked in the airline in the last three months stands at 177, according to the report. Also read: Pakistan aviation authority suspends 15 more pilots having fake licenses The PIA has taken up a so-called 'cleaning up' exercise of its staff following Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan's probe report into the May 22 Karachi plane crash. The domestic flight from Lahore to Karachi crashed in a residential area near the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. The aviation minister's probe report blamed the pilots and the air traffic control for the tragedy that killed 97 people. The report called for wholesale changes in the operations of the airline.

PIA sacks 74 more employees for fake degrees and other malpractices

The US Department of Transportation said it has revoked permission for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to conduct charter flights to the United States, citing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerns over Pakistani pilot certifications.

The information is contained in a revocation of special authorisation dated July 1 provided by the department to Reuters on Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/malaysia-suspends-pakistan-pilots-after-licence-fraud-revelation-310573">Also read:&nbsp;Malaysia suspends Pakistan pilots after licence fraud revelation</a>

Pakistan last month grounded almost a third of its pilots after discovering they may have falsified their qualifications. 
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency suspended PIA`s authorisation to fly to the bloc for six months in a blow to the carrier`s operations.

PIA was not available immediately for comment outside normal business hours.

Pakistan`s Geo News reported PIA had confirmed the US ban and said it would address the concerns through ongoing corrective measures within the airline.

Pakistan`s grounding of pilots with dubious credentials followed the crash of a PIA jet in May that killed 97 people.

The US Department of Transportation said it has revoked permission for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to conduct charter flights to the United States, citing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerns over Pakistani pilot certifications.

The US Department of Transportation said it has revoked permission for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to conduct charter flights to the United States, citing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerns over Pakistani pilot certifications. The information is contained in a revocation of special authorisation dated July 1 provided by the department to Reuters on Friday. Also read: Malaysia suspends Pakistan pilots after licence fraud revelation Pakistan last month grounded almost a third of its pilots after discovering they may have falsified their qualifications. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency suspended PIA`s authorisation to fly to the bloc for six months in a blow to the carrier`s operations. PIA was not available immediately for comment outside normal business hours. Pakistan`s Geo News reported PIA had confirmed the US ban and said it would address the concerns through ongoing corrective measures within the airline. Pakistan`s grounding of pilots with dubious credentials followed the crash of a PIA jet in May that killed 97 people.

US bans Pakistan International Airlines flights over pilot concerns

Vietnam's aviation authority has grounded all Pakistani Pilots working for local airlines amid concerns from global regulators that some Pakistani Pilots may have been using fake licenses. Watch report.

WION Dispatch: Pakistani Pilots accused of using fake licenses | Vietnam

Emirates laid off more pilots and cabin crew on Wednesday in a second day of redundancies at one of the world's biggest long-haul airlines, three company sources said.

An Emirates spokeswoman declined to comment beyond the airline's statement on Tuesday that said some employees had been laid off. No further details were provided.

The Dubai-based carrier laid off hundreds of pilots and cabin crew on Tuesday in a bid to stave off a cash crunch caused by the coronavirus pandemic, sources told Reuters.

More redundancies were expected this week, including both Airbus A380 and Boeing777 pilots, the sources said on Tuesday.

Those who lost their jobs were told their positions had been made redundant, the sources said.

Aviation is one of the industries worst hit by the fallout from the virus outbreak, with airlines around the world laying off staff and seeking government bailouts.

The state carrier had said in May a promise by the Dubai government to provide Emirates with new equity would allow it to "preserve its skilled workforce."

Emirates has since said it could take it up to four years to resume flights to all 157 destinations it flew to before the pandemic.

The airline has operated limited, mostly outbound services from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since grounding passenger flights in March, but is due to restart some connecting flights this month after the UAE lifted a suspension.

Emirates Group, the state holding company that includes the airline, has also seen lay offs at its airport services company dnata.

Emirates laid off more pilots and cabin crew on Wednesday in a second day of redundancies at one of the world's biggest long-haul airlines, three company sources said.

Emirates laid off more pilots and cabin crew on Wednesday in a second day of redundancies at one of the world's biggest long-haul airlines, three company sources said. An Emirates spokeswoman declined to comment beyond the airline's statement on Tuesday that said some employees had been laid off. No further details were provided. The Dubai-based carrier laid off hundreds of pilots and cabin crew on Tuesday in a bid to stave off a cash crunch caused by the coronavirus pandemic, sources told Reuters. More redundancies were expected this week, including both Airbus A380 and Boeing777 pilots, the sources said on Tuesday. Those who lost their jobs were told their positions had been made redundant, the sources said. Aviation is one of the industries worst hit by the fallout from the virus outbreak, with airlines around the world laying off staff and seeking government bailouts. The state carrier had said in May a promise by the Dubai government to provide Emirates with new equity would allow it to "preserve its skilled workforce." Emirates has since said it could take it up to four years to resume flights to all 157 destinations it flew to before the pandemic. The airline has operated limited, mostly outbound services from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since grounding passenger flights in March, but is due to restart some connecting flights this month after the UAE lifted a suspension. Emirates Group, the state holding company that includes the airline, has also seen lay offs at its airport services company dnata.

Emirates airline redundancies continue for second day: Sources

Indian government, along with Air India and Indian Navy, has started the biggest repatriation operation to bring back the Indians stranded abroad.

A lot of stranded Indians have been brought back home from Doha, Singapore, Kuwait, the UK and the US, and many more countries.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/vande-bharat-operation-177-indians-brought-back-from-kuwait-297702">Also read:&nbsp;Vande Bharat operation: 177 Indians brought back from Kuwait</a>

However, Air India's spokesperson announced that the Air India Express flight IX 374 from Doha which was earlier scheduled to leave Doha at 3:35 pm on Sunday and reach Thiruvananthapuram&nbsp;by 10:45 pm is cancelled.

The revised schedule will be updated later. The reason of the cancellation has not been disclosed yet.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/citizens-aboard-ins-jalashwa-return-from-maldives-as-a-part-of-repatriation-mission-297742">Also read:&nbsp;Citizens aboard INS Jalashwa return from Maldives as a part of repatriation mission</a>

It was also announced on Sunday that five Air India pilots tested positive for coronavirus. These pilots fly Boeing 787 planes.&nbsp;

The airlines had asked its pilots to undertake coronavirus&nbsp;test before they operate such flights.

However, as the pilots were tested one after another, the sources have revealed that it might also be a case of faulty test kits.

These pilots had not flown any flight since the last three weeks.&nbsp;"These pilots had operated cargo flights to China prior to April 20," an&nbsp;official said.

Indian government, along with Air India and Indian Navy, has started the biggest repatriation operation to bring back the Indians stranded abroad. A lot of stranded Indians have been brought back home from Doha, Singapore, Kuwait, the UK and the US, and many more countries.

Indian government, along with Air India and Indian Navy, has started the biggest repatriation operation to bring back the Indians stranded abroad. A lot of stranded Indians have been brought back home from Doha, Singapore, Kuwait, the UK and the US, and many more countries. Also read: Vande Bharat operation: 177 Indians brought back from Kuwait However, Air India's spokesperson announced that the Air India Express flight IX 374 from Doha which was earlier scheduled to leave Doha at 3:35 pm on Sunday and reach Thiruvananthapuram by 10:45 pm is cancelled. The revised schedule will be updated later. The reason of the cancellation has not been disclosed yet. Also read: Citizens aboard INS Jalashwa return from Maldives as a part of repatriation mission It was also announced on Sunday that five Air India pilots tested positive for coronavirus. These pilots fly Boeing 787 planes. The airlines had asked its pilots to undertake coronavirus test before they operate such flights. However, as the pilots were tested one after another, the sources have revealed that it might also be a case of faulty test kits. These pilots had not flown any flight since the last three weeks. "These pilots had operated cargo flights to China prior to April 20," an official said.

Air India Express flight from Doha cancelled; five pilots test positive

<div class="content" itemprop="articleBody">
Two trainee pilots were killed on Sunday when an aircraft they were flying crashed at Sultanpur village in the district.

The deceased have been identified as Prakash Vishal and Amanpreet Kaur. The aircraft had lost contact with the Begumpet Station in Hyderabad after 11.55 am.

"Today afternoon around 12.45 pm, an aircraft in which two trainee pilots Amanpreet Kaur (21) and Prakash Vishal were present crashed. The two trainee pilots died on the spot due to the impact of the crash," Vikarabad Police informed.

The incident took place in Bantvaram Mandal of Vikarabad district. The aircraft took off from Begumpet airport and it crashed in Vikarabad.

A case has been registered and the dead bodies have been shifted for post mortem examination.
</div>

Two trainee pilots were killed on Sunday when an aircraft they were flying crashed at Sultanpur village in the district. The deceased have been identified as Prakash Vishal and Amanpreet Kaur.

Two trainee pilots were killed on Sunday when an aircraft they were flying crashed at Sultanpur village in the district. The deceased have been identified as Prakash Vishal and Amanpreet Kaur. The aircraft had lost contact with the Begumpet Station in Hyderabad after 11.55 am. "Today afternoon around 12.45 pm, an aircraft in which two trainee pilots Amanpreet Kaur (21) and Prakash Vishal were present crashed. The two trainee pilots died on the spot due to the impact of the crash," Vikarabad Police informed. The incident took place in Bantvaram Mandal of Vikarabad district. The aircraft took off from Begumpet airport and it crashed in Vikarabad. A case has been registered and the dead bodies have been shifted for post mortem examination.

Telangana: Two trainee pilots killed after aircraft crashes in Vikarabad

An Indian Army Cheetah chopper crashed near Yongphulla in Bhutan on Friday killing both its pilots including a Bhutanese Army Captain.

The two pilots have been identified as Lieutenant Colonel Rajneesh Parmar of Indian Army and Captain Kalzang Wangdi of Royal Bhutan Army.

The single-engine Cheetah Helicopter of the Indian Army was on duty en-route from Khirmu (Arunanchal) to Yongfulla (Bhutan) when it crashed near Yongphulla at about 1 pm, Army Spokesperson Col Aman Anand said.

The chopper belonged to Indian Army`s 667 Army Aviation Squadron based in Misamari in Assam.

The chopper was returning after a commitment with an Indian Army Major General posted with Indian Army Military Training Team (IMTRAT) deployed in Bhutan, Indian Army sources said.

As a part of the arrangement between Indian and Bhutan, Bhutanese pilots have been training with the Indian Army since 2014-15.

Cheetahs are 1960 vintage planes which have been in the Indian Army for the last over 40 years and several attempts to replace them have failed due to one reason or the other.

"In an unfortunate incident, an Indian Army Helicopter has crashed at 1 pm near Yongphulla in Bhutan. The helicopter went out of radio and visual contact soon after 1 pm. The helicopter was on way from Khirmu (Arunanchal) to Yongphulla on duty," said Anand.

"Ground search and rescue were launched immediately from Yongphulla. The wreckage has been located," he said.&nbsp;

An Indian Army Cheetah chopper crashed near Yongphulla in Bhutan on Friday killing both its pilots including a Bhutanese Army Captain. The two pilots have been identified as Lieutenant Colonel Rajneesh Parmar of Indian Army and Captain Kalzang Wangdi of Royal Bhutan Army.

An Indian Army Cheetah chopper crashed near Yongphulla in Bhutan on Friday killing both its pilots including a Bhutanese Army Captain. The two pilots have been identified as Lieutenant Colonel Rajneesh Parmar of Indian Army and Captain Kalzang Wangdi of Royal Bhutan Army. The single-engine Cheetah Helicopter of the Indian Army was on duty en-route from Khirmu (Arunanchal) to Yongfulla (Bhutan) when it crashed near Yongphulla at about 1 pm, Army Spokesperson Col Aman Anand said. The chopper belonged to Indian Army`s 667 Army Aviation Squadron based in Misamari in Assam. The chopper was returning after a commitment with an Indian Army Major General posted with Indian Army Military Training Team (IMTRAT) deployed in Bhutan, Indian Army sources said. As a part of the arrangement between Indian and Bhutan, Bhutanese pilots have been training with the Indian Army since 2014-15. Cheetahs are 1960 vintage planes which have been in the Indian Army for the last over 40 years and several attempts to replace them have failed due to one reason or the other. "In an unfortunate incident, an Indian Army Helicopter has crashed at 1 pm near Yongphulla in Bhutan. The helicopter went out of radio and visual contact soon after 1 pm. The helicopter was on way from Khirmu (Arunanchal) to Yongphulla on duty," said Anand. "Ground search and rescue were launched immediately from Yongphulla. The wreckage has been located," he said.

Indian Army chopper crashes in Bhutan, both pilots killed

Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) has written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to review its rule of not allowing off duty pilots to travel in the cockpit.

The pilots' body requested the aviation watchdog to allow airline operators in India to permit their crew members to travel as Additional Crew Members (ACMs) in the cockpit.

"It is with grave concern that we received the notification that your good office has effectively banned the travel of pilots in the cockpit as Additional Crew Members (ACM). This we feel is a knee-jerk reaction by your officers to a recent incident, where a pilot who intended to travel as ACM failed his breathalyzer test. Sir, just because one individual failed a BA test, prohibiting the entire set of professionals from travelling as ACM is akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater," ICPA General Secretary Capt. T Praveen Keerthi wrote to DGCA's Director General Arun Kumar.

"A qualified crew member is always an asset in the cockpit. In the simplest form, it means another pair of eyes, ears and hands in the cockpit. One can easily understand that it enhances the level of safety and also security in the cockpit. If an emergency situation arises in the cockpit, the Additional Crew Member will be of invaluable assistance," the Air India pilots' body said.

"With an ACM in the cockpit, the pilots need not summon a cabin crew to the cockpit when leaving the flight-deck for lavatory breaks. So it necessitates only fewer opening and closing of the flight-deck access door," read the letter.

The DGCA had last month said off duty pilots and aircraft engineers are not allowed to travel in the cockpit, a day after it grounded an Air India Pilot for three months as he was tested positive in a pre-flight breath analyzer test.

The off-duty pilot was made to undertake the test after he requested to fly in the cockpit as an Additional Crew Member.

Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) has written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to review its rule of not allowing off duty pilots to travel in the cockpit.

Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) has written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to review its rule of not allowing off duty pilots to travel in the cockpit. The pilots' body requested the aviation watchdog to allow airline operators in India to permit their crew members to travel as Additional Crew Members (ACMs) in the cockpit. "It is with grave concern that we received the notification that your good office has effectively banned the travel of pilots in the cockpit as Additional Crew Members (ACM). This we feel is a knee-jerk reaction by your officers to a recent incident, where a pilot who intended to travel as ACM failed his breathalyzer test. Sir, just because one individual failed a BA test, prohibiting the entire set of professionals from travelling as ACM is akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater," ICPA General Secretary Capt. T Praveen Keerthi wrote to DGCA's Director General Arun Kumar. "A qualified crew member is always an asset in the cockpit. In the simplest form, it means another pair of eyes, ears and hands in the cockpit. One can easily understand that it enhances the level of safety and also security in the cockpit. If an emergency situation arises in the cockpit, the Additional Crew Member will be of invaluable assistance," the Air India pilots' body said. "With an ACM in the cockpit, the pilots need not summon a cabin crew to the cockpit when leaving the flight-deck for lavatory breaks. So it necessitates only fewer opening and closing of the flight-deck access door," read the letter. The DGCA had last month said off duty pilots and aircraft engineers are not allowed to travel in the cockpit, a day after it grounded an Air India Pilot for three months as he was tested positive in a pre-flight breath analyzer test. The off-duty pilot was made to undertake the test after he requested to fly in the cockpit as an Additional Crew Member.

ICPA requests DGCA to allow additional crew members travel in cockpit

The grounding of Jet has come as an opportunity for the market to hire readily-available skilled workforce from the licenced categories--pilots, engineers and cabin crew and deploy them directly into specifics roles, thereby saving time and money on training them.

WION Wallet: Vistara to hire Jet's 100 pilots & 400 cabin crews as well

Wednesday will be <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-737-max-makes-emergency-landing-in-us-faa-205906">a pivotal day</a> for aircraft maker Boeing Co and federal aviation safety regulators as they try to rebuild trust following two deadly crashes of Boeing 737 MAX airliners.

Boeing has scheduled a briefing on Wednesday for about 200 pilots and airline representatives in Renton, Washington, home of its 737 assembly complex. The company is expected to outline changes to software that controls a system designed to automatically prevent a mid-flight stall.

Also on Wednesday in Washington, DC, a US Senate panel plans to question the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Transportation Department's inspector general and the head of the National Transportation Safety Board about how thoroughly the 737 MAX's automated flight control system was tested, and what will be done to assure that any fixes work.

WHAT CAUSED CRASHES OF LION AIR, ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES JETS?

Q: Do Boeing and regulators know what caused the crashes of a Lion Air 737 MAX in October and an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX on March 10?

A: Investigations of both crashes are still under way, but Ethiopian officials and some regulators have pointed to similarities in both flight paths. An anti-stall system known as MCAS, or Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, has come under scrutiny. The system is designed to anticipate a stall.

WHY INSTALL MCAS?

Q: Why did Boeing install the MCAS in the 737 MAX?

A: The MAX has bigger engines than a conventional 737, and they are mounted closer to the nose. That can force the nose higher, threatening a stall. The MCAS was designed to use an automated system to anticipate a stall and act to prevent it without the pilot's intervention. Two U.S. pilots unions said Boeing did not disclose the existence of the MCAS. Boeing has promised more training as it rolls out a revised system.

DID FAA REVIEW MCAS?

Q: Did the FAA review the MCAS before the 737 MAX was put into service?

A: FAA engineers and test pilots were involved in testing of the MCAS, which included 297 certification test flights, said acting FAA chief Daniel Elwell in written testimony to the Senate panel. The Justice Department and the Transportation Department inspector general are now looking into how Boeing and the FAA handled the 737 MAX certification.

WHEN WILL 737 MAX FLY AGAIN?

Q: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virtually-every-single-boeing-737-max-plane-around-the-world-now-stands-grounded-203177">All 737 MAX planes are now grounded worldwide</a>. When will they be allowed to go back into regular service?

A: It could take weeks or months, experts and airline officials have said. Regulators in China, Europe and Canada have indicated they will conduct their own tests of the revised MCAS, in addition to tests that will be conducted by the FAA.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Q: What is at stake for Boeing?

A: The 737 MAX is a pillar of the company's commercial airliner business. Since the Ethiopian Airlines crash, Boeing has stopped delivery of all new MAX jets and its shares have lost about 12 percent and $29 billion in market value.

Indonesian airline Garuda has asked to cancel orders for 49 MAX aircraft, citing passenger concerns about the plane, although analysts said the deal was already in question before the Ethiopian crash.

Other airlines have expressed confidence in Boeing, but the company is working to rebuild trust among customers, pilots and travellers that its planes are safe. The proposed changes to the MCAS software aim to do that in part by giving more control over the plane back to human pilots.

CONSEQUENCES FOR FAA

Q: What are the consequences for the FAA, which has until now highlighted the benefits of a collaborative approach to oversight?

A: Some lawmakers, including Democratic U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, have criticized the FAA for being too cozy with Boeing, and zeroed in on the FAA's use of Boeing employees to conduct certain safety assessments during the certification process.

That practice was authorized by Congress, and in 2018 Congress specifically instructed the agency to use outside contractors to speed up aircraft certification. On Tuesday, Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel said the FAA intends to significantly change its oversight approach by July.

For decades, the FAA set the global benchmark for aviation and aircraft safety. After the Ethiopia Airlines crash, China moved first to order the grounding of 737 MAX aircraft and other nations followed China's lead. The FAA was the last major air safety regulator to order a halt to 737 MAX flights.

SHORTAGE OF PLANES? HIGHER TICKET PRICES?

Q: What about travellers? Will there be a shortage of planes or higher ticket prices if the 737 MAX planes are not allowed to fly soon?

A: The 737 MAX only accounts for about 1 percent of global fleets, so the grounding is not expected to have a major impact on passenger fares, although it has forced airlines to cancel some flights.

Southwest Airlines and American Airlines have the most 737 MAX aircraft among U.S. airlines, with 34 and 24, respectively. At American, the cancellations affected just 90 of about 6,700 daily departures. Some analysts have cut near-term profit forecasts for Southwest.

The key test will come if the grounding continues into the peak summer travel season.

Wednesday will be a pivotal day for aircraft maker Boeing Co and federal aviation safety regulators as they try to rebuild trust following two deadly crashes of Boeing 737 MAX airliners.

Wednesday will be a pivotal day for aircraft maker Boeing Co and federal aviation safety regulators as they try to rebuild trust following two deadly crashes of Boeing 737 MAX airliners. Boeing has scheduled a briefing on Wednesday for about 200 pilots and airline representatives in Renton, Washington, home of its 737 assembly complex. The company is expected to outline changes to software that controls a system designed to automatically prevent a mid-flight stall. Also on Wednesday in Washington, DC, a US Senate panel plans to question the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Transportation Department's inspector general and the head of the National Transportation Safety Board about how thoroughly the 737 MAX's automated flight control system was tested, and what will be done to assure that any fixes work. WHAT CAUSED CRASHES OF LION AIR, ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES JETS? Q: Do Boeing and regulators know what caused the crashes of a Lion Air 737 MAX in October and an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX on March 10? A: Investigations of both crashes are still under way, but Ethiopian officials and some regulators have pointed to similarities in both flight paths. An anti-stall system known as MCAS, or Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, has come under scrutiny. The system is designed to anticipate a stall. WHY INSTALL MCAS? Q: Why did Boeing install the MCAS in the 737 MAX? A: The MAX has bigger engines than a conventional 737, and they are mounted closer to the nose. That can force the nose higher, threatening a stall. The MCAS was designed to use an automated system to anticipate a stall and act to prevent it without the pilot's intervention. Two U.S. pilots unions said Boeing did not disclose the existence of the MCAS. Boeing has promised more training as it rolls out a revised system. DID FAA REVIEW MCAS? Q: Did the FAA review the MCAS before the 737 MAX was put into service? A: FAA engineers and test pilots were involved in testing of the MCAS, which included 297 certification test flights, said acting FAA chief Daniel Elwell in written testimony to the Senate panel. The Justice Department and the Transportation Department inspector general are now looking into how Boeing and the FAA handled the 737 MAX certification. WHEN WILL 737 MAX FLY AGAIN? Q: All 737 MAX planes are now grounded worldwide. When will they be allowed to go back into regular service? A: It could take weeks or months, experts and airline officials have said. Regulators in China, Europe and Canada have indicated they will conduct their own tests of the revised MCAS, in addition to tests that will be conducted by the FAA. WHAT'S AT STAKE? Q: What is at stake for Boeing? A: The 737 MAX is a pillar of the company's commercial airliner business. Since the Ethiopian Airlines crash, Boeing has stopped delivery of all new MAX jets and its shares have lost about 12 percent and $29 billion in market value. Indonesian airline Garuda has asked to cancel orders for 49 MAX aircraft, citing passenger concerns about the plane, although analysts said the deal was already in question before the Ethiopian crash. Other airlines have expressed confidence in Boeing, but the company is working to rebuild trust among customers, pilots and travellers that its planes are safe. The proposed changes to the MCAS software aim to do that in part by giving more control over the plane back to human pilots. CONSEQUENCES FOR FAA Q: What are the consequences for the FAA, which has until now highlighted the benefits of a collaborative approach to oversight? A: Some lawmakers, including Democratic U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, have criticized the FAA for being too cozy with Boeing, and zeroed in on the FAA's use of Boeing employees to conduct certain safety assessments during the certification process. That practice was authorized by Congress, and in 2018 Congress specifically instructed the agency to use outside contractors to speed up aircraft certification. On Tuesday, Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel said the FAA intends to significantly change its oversight approach by July. For decades, the FAA set the global benchmark for aviation and aircraft safety. After the Ethiopia Airlines crash, China moved first to order the grounding of 737 MAX aircraft and other nations followed China's lead. The FAA was the last major air safety regulator to order a halt to 737 MAX flights. SHORTAGE OF PLANES? HIGHER TICKET PRICES? Q: What about travellers? Will there be a shortage of planes or higher ticket prices if the 737 MAX planes are not allowed to fly soon? A: The 737 MAX only accounts for about 1 percent of global fleets, so the grounding is not expected to have a major impact on passenger fares, although it has forced airlines to cancel some flights. Southwest Airlines and American Airlines have the most 737 MAX aircraft among U.S. airlines, with 34 and 24, respectively. At American, the cancellations affected just 90 of about 6,700 daily departures. Some analysts have cut near-term profit forecasts for Southwest. The key test will come if the grounding continues into the peak summer travel season.

737 MAX: Pivotal day today for Boeing as it meets with pilots, airlines

Boeing Co said it invited more than 200 global airline pilots, technical leaders and regulators for an information session on Wednesday <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-calls-for-inquiry-into-faas-approval-boeing-737-max-8-204411">as it looks to return the 737 MAX to commercial service</a>.

The meeting is a sign that Boeing's planned software patch is nearing completion, though it will still need regulatory approval.

Over the weekend, Ethiopian Airlines executives had questioned whether Boeing had told pilots enough about "aggressive" software that pushes the plane's nose down, a focus of investigation into a deadly crash in Ethiopia this month that led to the global grounding of 737 MAX jets.

The informational session in Renton, Washington on Wednesday is part of a plan to reach all current and many future 737 MAX operators and their home regulators to discuss software and training updates to the jet, Boeing said in a statement.

Garuda Indonesia, which on Friday said it planned to cancel its order for 49 737 MAX jets citing a loss of passenger trust after the crashes, was invited to the briefing, CEO Ari Askhara told Reuters on Monday.

"We were informed on Friday, but because it is short notice we can't send a pilot there," he said, adding the airline had requested a webinar with Boeing but that idea had been rejected.

A Boeing spokeswoman said the Wednesday event was one of a series of in-person information sessions.

"We have been scheduling and will continue to arrange additional meetings to communicate with all current and many future MAX customers and operators," she said.

Garuda has only one 737 MAX and had been reconsidering its order before the Ethiopian crash, as has fellow Indonesian carrier Lion Air, which experienced a deadly crash in October.

Lion Air Managing Director Daniel Putut said Boeing had informed the airline of the Wednesday meeting but it might not attend. He declined to provide further comment.

Singapore Airlines Ltd said on Monday its offshoot SilkAir, which operates the 737 MAX, had received the invitation to the Wednesday event and would send representatives.

Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore representatives will also attend, a spokeswoman for the regulator said.

Korean Air Lines Co Ltd, which before the grounding had been due to receive its first 737 MAX in April, said it planned to send pilots to Renton. South Korean low-cost carrier Eastar Jet will send two pilots, a spokesman said.

Ethiopian Airlines did not respond immedidately to a request for comment about the meeting.

The 737 MAX is Boeing's best-selling plane, with orders worth more than $500 billion at list prices.

Teams from the three U.S. airlines that own 737 MAX jets participated in a session in Renton reviewing a planned software upgrade on Saturday.

A US&nbsp;official briefed on the matter Saturday said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet signed off on the software upgrade and training but the goal is to review them in coming weeks and approve them by April.

It remained unclear whether the software upgrade, called "design changes" by the FAA, will resolve concerns stemming from the ongoing investigation into the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines crash, which killed all 157 on board.

"After the crash it came to our attention that the system is aggressive," Yohannes Hailemariam, vice president for flight operations at Ethiopian, told local reporters speaking in the Amharic language.

"It gives a message of stalling and it takes immediate action which is faster than the action which pilots were briefed to take by Boeing," said Yohannes, himself a pilot with over 30 years of experience, including flying Boeing's 777 and 787.

The US&nbsp;official said planned changes included 15 minutes of training to help pilots deactivate the anti-stall system known as MCAS in the event of faulty sensor data or other issues. It also included some self-guided instruction, the official added.

American Airlines said Sunday it will extend flight cancellations through April 24 because of the grounding of the 737 MAX and cut some additional flights.

Boeing Co said it invited more than 200 global airline pilots, technical leaders and regulators for an information session on Wednesday as it looks to return the 737 MAX to commercial service.

Boeing Co said it invited more than 200 global airline pilots, technical leaders and regulators for an information session on Wednesday as it looks to return the 737 MAX to commercial service. The meeting is a sign that Boeing's planned software patch is nearing completion, though it will still need regulatory approval. Over the weekend, Ethiopian Airlines executives had questioned whether Boeing had told pilots enough about "aggressive" software that pushes the plane's nose down, a focus of investigation into a deadly crash in Ethiopia this month that led to the global grounding of 737 MAX jets. The informational session in Renton, Washington on Wednesday is part of a plan to reach all current and many future 737 MAX operators and their home regulators to discuss software and training updates to the jet, Boeing said in a statement. Garuda Indonesia, which on Friday said it planned to cancel its order for 49 737 MAX jets citing a loss of passenger trust after the crashes, was invited to the briefing, CEO Ari Askhara told Reuters on Monday. "We were informed on Friday, but because it is short notice we can't send a pilot there," he said, adding the airline had requested a webinar with Boeing but that idea had been rejected. A Boeing spokeswoman said the Wednesday event was one of a series of in-person information sessions. "We have been scheduling and will continue to arrange additional meetings to communicate with all current and many future MAX customers and operators," she said. Garuda has only one 737 MAX and had been reconsidering its order before the Ethiopian crash, as has fellow Indonesian carrier Lion Air, which experienced a deadly crash in October. Lion Air Managing Director Daniel Putut said Boeing had informed the airline of the Wednesday meeting but it might not attend. He declined to provide further comment. Singapore Airlines Ltd said on Monday its offshoot SilkAir, which operates the 737 MAX, had received the invitation to the Wednesday event and would send representatives. Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore representatives will also attend, a spokeswoman for the regulator said. Korean Air Lines Co Ltd, which before the grounding had been due to receive its first 737 MAX in April, said it planned to send pilots to Renton. South Korean low-cost carrier Eastar Jet will send two pilots, a spokesman said. Ethiopian Airlines did not respond immedidately to a request for comment about the meeting. The 737 MAX is Boeing's best-selling plane, with orders worth more than $500 billion at list prices. Teams from the three U.S. airlines that own 737 MAX jets participated in a session in Renton reviewing a planned software upgrade on Saturday. A US official briefed on the matter Saturday said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet signed off on the software upgrade and training but the goal is to review them in coming weeks and approve them by April. It remained unclear whether the software upgrade, called "design changes" by the FAA, will resolve concerns stemming from the ongoing investigation into the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines crash, which killed all 157 on board. "After the crash it came to our attention that the system is aggressive," Yohannes Hailemariam, vice president for flight operations at Ethiopian, told local reporters speaking in the Amharic language. "It gives a message of stalling and it takes immediate action which is faster than the action which pilots were briefed to take by Boeing," said Yohannes, himself a pilot with over 30 years of experience, including flying Boeing's 777 and 787. The US official said planned changes included 15 minutes of training to help pilots deactivate the anti-stall system known as MCAS in the event of faulty sensor data or other issues. It also included some self-guided instruction, the official added. American Airlines said Sunday it will extend flight cancellations through April 24 because of the grounding of the 737 MAX and cut some additional flights.

Boeing, looking to return 737 MAX to service, invites pilots & regulators to briefing

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