The umbrella body of the domestic pilots of the nearly crippled <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/jet-airways-shares-fell-by-5-amid-massive-flights-cancellation-204299">Jet Airways</a> Tuesday threatened to stop flying from April 1, if the resolution plan is delayed and salary dues are not cleared by the end of this month.

The decision was taken at the annual meeting of Jet Airways domestic pilots body National Aviators Guild after a meeting here lasting for over 90 minutes.

The guild, which came into being almost a decade ago, represents around 1,000 domestic pilots at the airline.

"If there is no proper clarity on the resolution process and salary payments, by March 31, we will stop flying from April 1," the guild said.

The pilots and other senior staff have not RPT not been getting their full salaries since December.

Having failed to get any assurance from the management on salaries, the guild last week had written to Union labour minister Santosh Gangwar, seeking his intervention.

Meanwhile, aviation minister Suresh Prabhu Tuesday also directed his the secretary to hold an emergency meeting on the debt-ridden airline that has been cancelling flights abruptly following grounding of a large part of its fleet.&nbsp;

The umbrella body of the domestic pilots of the nearly crippled Jet Airways Tuesday threatened to stop flying from April 1, if the resolution plan is delayed and salary dues are not cleared by the end of this month.

The umbrella body of the domestic pilots of the nearly crippled Jet Airways Tuesday threatened to stop flying from April 1, if the resolution plan is delayed and salary dues are not cleared by the end of this month. The decision was taken at the annual meeting of Jet Airways domestic pilots body National Aviators Guild after a meeting here lasting for over 90 minutes. The guild, which came into being almost a decade ago, represents around 1,000 domestic pilots at the airline. "If there is no proper clarity on the resolution process and salary payments, by March 31, we will stop flying from April 1," the guild said. The pilots and other senior staff have not RPT not been getting their full salaries since December. Having failed to get any assurance from the management on salaries, the guild last week had written to Union labour minister Santosh Gangwar, seeking his intervention. Meanwhile, aviation minister Suresh Prabhu Tuesday also directed his the secretary to hold an emergency meeting on the debt-ridden airline that has been cancelling flights abruptly following grounding of a large part of its fleet.

Jet Airways pilots threaten to stop flying from April 1

Shortage of pilots continued to hamper budget carrier IndiGos operations with <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/indigo-airlines-cancels-47-flights-hundreds-of-passengers-affected-9294">the airline cancelling as many as 30 flights Tuesday</a> from across stations and passengers allegedly being forced to buy last-minute high fares for its flights, a source said.

On Monday also, the Gurugram-headquartered airline had pulled 32 flights from its network.

On the other hand, there was no indication of any probe by the aviation regulator into the cancellation of such a large number of flights by the airline since last Saturday.

IndiGo has cancelled 30 flights for Tuesday due to the ongoing pilots' issue. Most of the flights have been cancelled from Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai, the source said.

While eight flights are not being operated from Kolkata, another five flights are cancelled from Hyderabad and four each from Bangalore and Chennai, among others, he added.

The source also alleged that IndiGo was forcing passengers to either buy last-minute fares or offering them alternate flights with one-stop connectivity with long transit time.

Response to the queries sent to IndiGo and Directorate General of Civil Aviation on this issue was awaited.

In a statement on Sunday, the airline had blamed on weather for disruption in operations across its network.

"As part of recovering our schedule, the positioning of the crew and aircraft had to be readjusted. As a result, a number of flights were cancelled, it had said without giving any specific number of flights were cancelled. 
&nbsp;

Shortage of pilots continued to hamper budget carrier IndiGos operations with the airline cancelling as many as 30 flights Tuesday from across stations and passengers allegedly being forced to buy last-minute high fares for its flights, a source said.

Shortage of pilots continued to hamper budget carrier IndiGos operations with the airline cancelling as many as 30 flights Tuesday from across stations and passengers allegedly being forced to buy last-minute high fares for its flights, a source said. On Monday also, the Gurugram-headquartered airline had pulled 32 flights from its network. On the other hand, there was no indication of any probe by the aviation regulator into the cancellation of such a large number of flights by the airline since last Saturday. IndiGo has cancelled 30 flights for Tuesday due to the ongoing pilots' issue. Most of the flights have been cancelled from Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai, the source said. While eight flights are not being operated from Kolkata, another five flights are cancelled from Hyderabad and four each from Bangalore and Chennai, among others, he added. The source also alleged that IndiGo was forcing passengers to either buy last-minute fares or offering them alternate flights with one-stop connectivity with long transit time. Response to the queries sent to IndiGo and Directorate General of Civil Aviation on this issue was awaited. In a statement on Sunday, the airline had blamed on weather for disruption in operations across its network. "As part of recovering our schedule, the positioning of the crew and aircraft had to be readjusted. As a result, a number of flights were cancelled, it had said without giving any specific number of flights were cancelled.

For second day, IndiGo cancels 30 flights because of shortage of pilots

Airlines world over make huge investments to hone the skills of pilots in their quest for the maintenance of high safety standards.

It is therefore incomprehensible that an astounding number of pilots of Indian carriers – 181 to be precise, as per statement made in Parliament, failed the mandatory breathalyser test prior to operating flights during the three year period 2015-18.

Pilots, in the course of their exhaustive training, are made to realise the significance of safety; that lives of hundreds of passengers depend on them, etc. Why do some of them then behave so immaturely and irresponsibly so as to fail the mandatory breathalyser test?&nbsp;

It’s a question that has defied a satisfactory response because the number of instances of pilots failing the test hasn’t shown any appreciable decline during the recent years and India’s track record continues to be more abysmal than most other countries.&nbsp;

Even if it is argued that while instances of pilots reporting in a drunken state year after year in absolute number may not have shown a decline, the reality of it going down as a percentage of flights operated cannot be overlooked. This is because the number of flights operated in these years has gone up significantly, as has the number of pilots in various airlines.&nbsp;

What is, however, perplexing is that even the tightening of action by the regulatory agency, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has apparently failed to make the pilots understand the gravity of their lackadaisical approach.&nbsp;

As per new regulations introduced by the DGCA in 2015, more as a consequence of India’s safety rating downgrade by the Federal Aviation Administration of USA in the previous year, to curb the menace, all flights are now mandatorily covered through pre-flight checks whereas earlier checks were conducted only at random.&nbsp;

The punishment too has been made more stringent. Suspension of flying licence for the first instance of violation and revocation of licence for three years for a repeat offence.&nbsp;

Considering that pilots earn between Rs 3-8 lakh a month depending on their seniority, suspension of flying licence does translate into a huge financial punitive loss for them, but it seemingly is still failing to act as a deterrent.

It is imperative to dispel the often-cited, hastily drawn, conclusion that had the pilots not been stopped from operating the flight on failing the breathalyser test it would have resulted in a tragedy.&nbsp;

The breathalyser tests are stringent as even negligible traces of alcohol in breath result in pilots being kept away from operating the flight. The pilot unions have always termed these standards as too stringent, but their reservation is only to be expected considering whose interests they seek to represent and protect.&nbsp;

Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules states “No person acting as, or carried in aircraft for the purpose of acting as pilot, commander, navigator, engineer, cabin crew or the other operating member of the crew thereof, shall have taken or used any alcoholic drink, sedative, narcotic, or stimulant drug preparation within 12 hours of the commencement of the flight...”

Pilots failing breathalyser test is also not a phenomenon restricted to India alone. Nineteen pilots of Japan Airlines since August 2018 have failed the breathalyser test forcing the airline to ban alcohol consumption 24 hours before a flight, instead of the earlier 12 hours.

Likewise, a Singapore Airlines pilot failed a random breathalyser test before captaining a transcontinental flight from Melbourne, Australia, to Wellington, New Zealand, three months ago. The flight had to be cancelled resulting in inconvenience to passengers because at foreign locations substitute pilots are not available.

DGCA may perhaps need to emulate the example of Japan Airlines because restrictions need to be guided by ground realities as they exist in India and not global benchmarks.

The argument that our current 12-hour ban is already higher than the eight-hour ban that exists for pilots in Europe and the USA can’t be held as merited because the problem needs to be curbed as the safety of passengers is paramount.

There are some who argue that the problem of pilots failing the breathalyser test is a consequence of stress caused by increasingly busy schedules as airlines expand operations, but it lacks credibility.&nbsp;

A more plausible reason could be our social environment where good-monied life means partying and partying can’t be without the liquor flowing freely. No one would grudge the pilots enjoying the way they would like to but it can’t be at the expense of the safety of passengers! 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-pilots-must-curb-tendency-to-turn-up-drunk-for-flights-2703194">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

Airlines world over make huge investments to hone the skills of pilots in their quest for the maintenance of high safety standards. It is therefore incomprehensible that an astounding number of pilots of Indian carriers – 181 to be precise, as per statement made in Parliament, failed the mandatory breathalyser test prior to operating flights during the three year period 2015-18.

Airlines world over make huge investments to hone the skills of pilots in their quest for the maintenance of high safety standards. It is therefore incomprehensible that an astounding number of pilots of Indian carriers – 181 to be precise, as per statement made in Parliament, failed the mandatory breathalyser test prior to operating flights during the three year period 2015-18. Pilots, in the course of their exhaustive training, are made to realise the significance of safety; that lives of hundreds of passengers depend on them, etc. Why do some of them then behave so immaturely and irresponsibly so as to fail the mandatory breathalyser test? It’s a question that has defied a satisfactory response because the number of instances of pilots failing the test hasn’t shown any appreciable decline during the recent years and India’s track record continues to be more abysmal than most other countries. Even if it is argued that while instances of pilots reporting in a drunken state year after year in absolute number may not have shown a decline, the reality of it going down as a percentage of flights operated cannot be overlooked. This is because the number of flights operated in these years has gone up significantly, as has the number of pilots in various airlines. What is, however, perplexing is that even the tightening of action by the regulatory agency, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has apparently failed to make the pilots understand the gravity of their lackadaisical approach. As per new regulations introduced by the DGCA in 2015, more as a consequence of India’s safety rating downgrade by the Federal Aviation Administration of USA in the previous year, to curb the menace, all flights are now mandatorily covered through pre-flight checks whereas earlier checks were conducted only at random. The punishment too has been made more stringent. Suspension of flying licence for the first instance of violation and revocation of licence for three years for a repeat offence. Considering that pilots earn between Rs 3-8 lakh a month depending on their seniority, suspension of flying licence does translate into a huge financial punitive loss for them, but it seemingly is still failing to act as a deterrent. It is imperative to dispel the often-cited, hastily drawn, conclusion that had the pilots not been stopped from operating the flight on failing the breathalyser test it would have resulted in a tragedy. The breathalyser tests are stringent as even negligible traces of alcohol in breath result in pilots being kept away from operating the flight. The pilot unions have always termed these standards as too stringent, but their reservation is only to be expected considering whose interests they seek to represent and protect. Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules states “No person acting as, or carried in aircraft for the purpose of acting as pilot, commander, navigator, engineer, cabin crew or the other operating member of the crew thereof, shall have taken or used any alcoholic drink, sedative, narcotic, or stimulant drug preparation within 12 hours of the commencement of the flight...” Pilots failing breathalyser test is also not a phenomenon restricted to India alone. Nineteen pilots of Japan Airlines since August 2018 have failed the breathalyser test forcing the airline to ban alcohol consumption 24 hours before a flight, instead of the earlier 12 hours. Likewise, a Singapore Airlines pilot failed a random breathalyser test before captaining a transcontinental flight from Melbourne, Australia, to Wellington, New Zealand, three months ago. The flight had to be cancelled resulting in inconvenience to passengers because at foreign locations substitute pilots are not available. DGCA may perhaps need to emulate the example of Japan Airlines because restrictions need to be guided by ground realities as they exist in India and not global benchmarks. The argument that our current 12-hour ban is already higher than the eight-hour ban that exists for pilots in Europe and the USA can’t be held as merited because the problem needs to be curbed as the safety of passengers is paramount. There are some who argue that the problem of pilots failing the breathalyser test is a consequence of stress caused by increasingly busy schedules as airlines expand operations, but it lacks credibility. A more plausible reason could be our social environment where good-monied life means partying and partying can’t be without the liquor flowing freely. No one would grudge the pilots enjoying the way they would like to but it can’t be at the expense of the safety of passengers! (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Pilots must curb tendency to turn up drunk for flights

Two airline pilots have reported spotted an unidentified flying object (UFO) off the coast of Ireland. News reports Tuesday said the sighting is being investigated by the Irish Aviation Authority.&nbsp;

The alleged UFO was spotted by the pilots of British Airways flight BA94 on November 9.&nbsp;

The pilots called air traffic control in Shannon and reported seeing an object moving past their aircraft; they then asked if there were any military exercises taking place off the west coast of Ireland.

The news reports said the pilots was told there were no military exercises being conducted in the area.&nbsp;

The news reports said the pilots described the alleged UFO as a very bright light travelling at very high speed.

The reports added that&nbsp;a Virgin Airlines pilot had mentioned a possible meteor in the area, and described several objects travelling along the same path.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Two airline pilots have reported spotted an unidentified flying object (UFO) off the coast of Ireland. News reports Tuesday said the sighting is being investigated by the Irish Aviation Authority.

Two airline pilots have reported spotted an unidentified flying object (UFO) off the coast of Ireland. News reports Tuesday said the sighting is being investigated by the Irish Aviation Authority. The alleged UFO was spotted by the pilots of British Airways flight BA94 on November 9. The pilots called air traffic control in Shannon and reported seeing an object moving past their aircraft; they then asked if there were any military exercises taking place off the west coast of Ireland. The news reports said the pilots was told there were no military exercises being conducted in the area. The news reports said the pilots described the alleged UFO as a very bright light travelling at very high speed. The reports added that a Virgin Airlines pilot had mentioned a possible meteor in the area, and described several objects travelling along the same path.

British Airways pilots report seeing UFO off west coast of Ireland

Pakistan Supreme Court today ordered Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and heads of all Pakistani airlines to appear for the next hearing of a case pertaining to fake degrees of pilots.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar asked Abbasi to appear as former CEO of an airline along with other heads of all Pakistani airlines.

"Isn't it a matter of clash of interests?" asked the chief justice when told that the prime minister is also the head of Airblue airlines. "Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will have to appear in the capacity of a chief executive officer and not a premier."

The chief justice, who was heading a three-member bench, said that he was issuing notices to heads of all Pakistani airlines as the matter has been pending for the last four months and reports in this regard have not been submitted as yet.&nbsp

Those who have been summoned include the heads of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airblue Limited, Serene Air and Shaheen Air International.

The chief executive officers of the airlines were directed to appear in person at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Karachi Registry on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority Director Nasir Ali Shah told the court that degrees of 1,972 people working with airlines were verified while 24 pilots were found to be holding fake degrees.

During the hearing, Civil Aviation Authority Director Nasir Ali Shah told the court that the authority has received the reports on pilots' degrees from Shaheen International Airline and Serene Air today in Karachi, while the report of Airblue was received yesterday.&nbsp

Pakistan PM Abbasi has been asked to appear as a former CEO of an airline along with other heads of all Pakistani airlines

Pakistan Supreme Court today ordered Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and heads of all Pakistani airlines to appear for the next hearing of a case pertaining to fake degrees of pilots. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar asked Abbasi to appear as former CEO of an airline along with other heads of all Pakistani airlines. "Isn't it a matter of clash of interests?" asked the chief justice when told that the prime minister is also the head of Airblue airlines. "Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will have to appear in the capacity of a chief executive officer and not a premier." The chief justice, who was heading a three-member bench, said that he was issuing notices to heads of all Pakistani airlines as the matter has been pending for the last four months and reports in this regard have not been submitted as yet. Those who have been summoned include the heads of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airblue Limited, Serene Air and Shaheen Air International. The chief executive officers of the airlines were directed to appear in person at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Karachi Registry on Saturday. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority Director Nasir Ali Shah told the court that degrees of 1,972 people working with airlines were verified while 24 pilots were found to be holding fake degrees. During the hearing, Civil Aviation Authority Director Nasir Ali Shah told the court that the authority has received the reports on pilots' degrees from Shaheen International Airline and Serene Air today in Karachi, while the report of Airblue was received yesterday.

Pakistan Supreme Court summons PM in case of pilots' fake degrees

According to reports, a Russian helicopter crashed in Syria on Monday night. Moscow's defence ministry issued a statement noting that both the pilots had died in the mishap.&nbsp

Russian Ka-52 helicopter was on a routine flight over eastern Syrian regions when it crashed due to what is been reported as a technical fault.&nbsp

This is the second time in a week when Russian army's helicopter crashed in Syria. Last week, a Russian fighter jet crashed after taking off from an airbase, both the pilots were killed.&nbsp

At least 39 people were killed when a transport plane crashed on landing at the Hmeimim airbase in March this year. The incident is being reported as one of Russia's largest military losses to have occurred recently.&nbsp

(With inputs from agencies)

This is the second time in a week when Russian army's helicopter crashed in Syria

According to reports, a Russian helicopter crashed in Syria on Monday night. Moscow's defence ministry issued a statement noting that both the pilots had died in the mishap. Russian Ka-52 helicopter was on a routine flight over eastern Syrian regions when it crashed due to what is been reported as a technical fault. This is the second time in a week when Russian army's helicopter crashed in Syria. Last week, a Russian fighter jet crashed after taking off from an airbase, both the pilots were killed. At least 39 people were killed when a transport plane crashed on landing at the Hmeimim airbase in March this year. The incident is being reported as one of Russia's largest military losses to have occurred recently. (With inputs from agencies)

Syria: Russian helicopter crashes, both pilots get killed

Delhi High Court today directed national aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to make sure that no pilot flies for more than 125 hours in 30 consecutive days.&nbsp

The aviation watchdog added that "making pilots overwork is dangerous for the safety of passengers".

Last month, Delhi HC cracked its whip on the DGCA asking for an affidavit stating that the remaining fleet of A-320 neo planes were safe and airworthy.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Delhi HC tells Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that no pilot should fly for a time of more than 125 hours in 30 consecutive days, adds that, 'making pilots overwork is dangerous for safety of passengers.'
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/986554972170006528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

According to DGCA, IndiGo and GoAir together have a total of 45 A320 neo aircraft, of which 14 have been grounded till date due to engine trouble.

The direction from a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar came on a plea which has sought the grounding of all the A320 neos till the aviation regulator certified that they are safe to fly.

(With inputs from agencies)

Making pilots overwork is dangerous for the safety of passengers: Delhi High Court

Delhi High Court today directed national aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to make sure that no pilot flies for more than 125 hours in 30 consecutive days. The aviation watchdog added that "making pilots overwork is dangerous for the safety of passengers". Last month, Delhi HC cracked its whip on the DGCA asking for an affidavit stating that the remaining fleet of A-320 neo planes were safe and airworthy. Delhi HC tells Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that no pilot should fly for a time of more than 125 hours in 30 consecutive days, adds that, 'making pilots overwork is dangerous for safety of passengers.' — ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2018 × According to DGCA, IndiGo and GoAir together have a total of 45 A320 neo aircraft, of which 14 have been grounded till date due to engine trouble. The direction from a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar came on a plea which has sought the grounding of all the A320 neos till the aviation regulator certified that they are safe to fly. (With inputs from agencies)

No pilot should fly over 125 hours in 30 days: Delhi High Court tells DGCA

pilots

Pilots, News on Pilots, stories on Pilots, articles on Pilots, Pilots stories at Wion, Pilots news, Pilots latest news