ICPA demands 3-yr suspension for AI operations head

Air India pilots body ICPA today demanded stricter action against the airlines' operations head Capt A K Kathpalia, whose flying licence was suspended for three months by the DGCA for evading mandatory pre-flight medical test on several occasions.
The Indian Commercial Pilot's Association (ICPA) has written to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) alleging "favouritism" on its part towards the senior Air India Captain and cited rules to say that he was "liable for a harsher three-year suspension."
The DGCA today suspended Kathpalia's flying licence for three months for failing to undertake breath analyser test, either before or after operating a domestic flight on January 19.

In its letter, the ICPA drew the attention of DGCA to a subsequent flight undertaken by Kathpalia where, too, he "evaded the pre-flight breath analyser test at Bengaluru before undertaking flight AI-173".
The pilots body alleged that this constituted a second offence and must therefore invite a three-year suspension according to rules.
The action by DGCA comes within a week of the national carrier taking Kathpalia, a senior executive pilot, off flying duties. Interestingly, Kathpalia -- who is the Executive Director (Operations) -- has been selected for a board level position at Air India, pending final approval.

The suspension would be effective from February 7, the day when he was taken off from flying duties by the airline after directions from the DGCA.

There was no response from Air India to queries in this regard.
Sources at the airline said the five-member committee, set up to probe allegations of violations against Kathpalia, has submitted its report to the DGCA.