Air India terminates services of 3 co-pilots

National carrier Air India has terminated the services of three co-pilots for breach of contract in a move to deter pilots from quitting the airline after receiving high-cost type rating training and joining other airlines at higher salary packages.
Air India sources today said that the airline has given these first officers, who fly narrow body Airbus A320, a one month notice while terminating their services.
"These pilots had quit the airline without completing their five-year contract terms. We have spent a huge cost on training of these pilots...The contract terms and conditions have to be followed," the sources said.

Air India has also requested the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation to cancel their licences, they said.
These pilots had quit the airline immediately after completing their training with the carrier, they said.
"It is (pilots quitting Air India after training and joining other airlines) an unethical practice and it needs to be controlled," Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani told PTI.

As many as 98 trained pilots had quit Air India between April 1, 2014 and October 30 this year and joined private airlines.
Air India currently spends a whopping Rs 25-60 lakh on training a new entrant to fly a particular type of aircraft after his or her induction.

Type rating is a regulating agencies certification given to a pilot to fly a certain aircraft type that requires additional training beyond the scope of the initial license and aircraft class training.
As per the aviation regulator DGCA norms, a pilot has to serve a minimum of six months with the employer prior to taking up a job with other airline or company.
"Air India has now made it mandatory for the new pilots joining the carrier to sign a bond for Rs one-crore as against up to Rs 14 lakh earlier. This bond amount would be recovered in case a pilot decides to leave the airline before the contract period," the sources said.