Indian Pilots

DGCA orders one-time drug test for all pilots after Air India incident

The directive follows a recent case involving an Air India pilot who tested positive for illegal drugs after a flight experienced a rare hydraulic-system failure

Govt panel proposes simulator-heavy pilot licence to ease crew shortage

The Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) under discussion was introduced ​by the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization in 2006 and adopted by many countries

Pilots Association flags fatigue risks, seeks urgent FDTL rollout by DGCA

The pilots' body further stated that the continued granting of variations to airline operators has significantly diluted the intent of FDTL regulations

Pilots fear retribution over refusing to fly in West Asia: Aviators' group

Pilots from Lebanon to India have voiced 'widespread' concerns they could face sanctions if ​they do not fly in often unpredictable conditions where airspace can close with little notice

Extended duty limits could threaten flight safety: Pilots' union to DGCA

Federation of Indian Pilots warns that DGCA's temporary relaxation in flight duty limits for Air India long haul flights could heighten fatigue risks and compromise safety

Pilot body demands grounding of Air India's B-787s over technical failures

The Federation of Indian Pilots highlighted two recent incidents when the aircraft suffered serious systems' failures, including deployment of the emergency turbine motor in one case

Rail unions flag fake breaks: What is driver fatigue and why rest matters

Unions say rail zones are manipulating CMS data to conceal overutilisation of loco pilots amid staff crunch

Air India says will review preliminary plane crash report with pilots

Air India on Saturday said it will take on board its pilot community by holding dedicated sessions in the coming days to review the preliminary investigation report of the Ahmedabad plane crash on June 12. The 15-page preliminary report by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AIIB), released early on Saturday, has found that the fuel supply to both engines of Air India flight AI171 was cut off within a second of each other, causing confusion in the cockpit and the airplane plummeting back to ground almost immediately after taking off. On June 12, the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner began to lose thrust almost immediately after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport and ploughed into a medical college hostel, killing all but one of the 242 onboard and another 19 on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in a decade. "Preliminary investigation report has been officially released in the recent tragic accident involving our flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on .

Arts, commerce students may soon be eligible for pilot training: DGCA

DGCA proposes ending the science-only eligibility rule for pilots, a change that could open up commercial pilot training to arts and commerce students

Shubhanshu Shukla set to become first Indian to fly to ISS on May 29

Indian Air Force's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history on May 29 as the first Indian to fly to the International Space Station, piloting the Axiom Mission 4

Fearing 'cascading' impact: Akasa Air seeks DGCA exemption from fog mandate

Airline informs regulator flight operations could face 'cascading' impact

Air India to check veracity of flight crew's fatigue reports from Oct 1

The policy is part of a series of new measures being implemented ahead of A-I's merger with Vistara

Anticipating pilot shortage, Air India to launch its own training school

Air India's initiative marks a departure from the traditional approach of Indian airlines, which have typically partnered with independent flight schools both domestically and internationally

Air India pilots join Vistara crew in voicing concerns over fatigue, pay

The pilots said they're made to rack up maximum flying hours, face difficulties in having leave approved and deal with unstable rosters, according to the letter dated April 4

'Bonded labour': Air India pilot unions extend support to Vistara

Vistara is a 51:49 joint venture of Tata Group and Singapore Airlines. Air India is a completely owned airline of the Tata Group. Vistara is in the process of being merged into Air India

Vistara flight cancellations: Why is the airline facing 'crew unavailability'

Approximately 50 Vistara flights were cancelled, and several others were delayed on Monday, April 1, after a section of pilots went on leave, forcing the airline to curtail its schedule. Reports sugge

Pilots body flags deferment of revised duty norms; writes to ministry

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has raised concerns about aviation regulator DGCA deferring the implementation of the revised flight duty norms for pilots, saying the health of pilots cannot be prejudiced for the commercial benefit of operators. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on March 26, deferred the implementation of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms that were to be effective from June 1. The new framework, which would provide more rest hours for pilots, was proposed amid concerns about pilot fatigue. In a letter dated March 28 to Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the FIP has flagged concerns about the DGCA decision. "The action of the DGCA not only endangers pilot safety but also undermines the safety of passengers which the implementation of the revised CAR (Civil Aviation Requirements) could prevent. "Furthermore, the health and safety of the pilots cannot be prejudiced for the commercial benefit of the operators," the

TMS Ep605: Pilot fatigue, PV inventory, real estate stocks, stock split

How can Indian airlines balance pilot fatigue and profits? Are India's auto dealers facing a problem of plenty? Is it time to book profit in real estate stocks? What is a stock split? All answers here

DGCA issues notice to Air India, SpiceJet for rostering untrained pilots

A senior DGCA official confirmed that the notice was issued to airlines after it was found that a large number of flight diversions that were reported at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi

DGCA transfers two senior officials over allegations of corruption

The regulator's action comes four days after suspending operations at Redbird Flight Training Academy, one of India's largest flight training centres, across all its five training bases in the country