Bombay HC to hear AI pilots' plea today

The Bombay high court here will take up tomorrow the Indian Pilots Guild’s (IPG) petition for a stay on Air India’s (AI’s) order on selecting pilots from the erstwhile Indian Airlines for Boeing 787 training.

The AI management also began negotiations with the IPG on the issue. Vineeta Bhandari, executive director (industrial relations), on Tuesday met pilot representatives demanding withdrawal of the order, but the talks remained inconclusive. Further negotiations are scheduled tomorrow.

The IPG moved the court against the AI order alleging discrimination. Along with the airline management and the central government, it has made the Indian Commercial Pilots Association and the union of former Indian Airline pilots as respondents to the petition.

The IPG has not issued a strike notice. It has been cautious not to be seen on the wrong side of the law this time. It was de-recognised following a strike in 2003 and was without recognition for about four years. Civil aviation minister Praful Patel agreed to re-recognise the union, following which Nationalist Congress Party legislator Jitendra Awhad was selected as its president.

Over the last few years, AI has deputed over 100 pilots to AI Express as first officers and later for promotion to commander rank.

In 2008, 40 AI pilots secured command, but their promotion as training captains (instructors and examiners) has been stuck. Subsequently, 110 first officers were deputed to AI Express, but 18 months into the posting, they were brought back because they could not complete training.