Page 2 - Pilots

IATA proposes raising age limit for commercial pilots to 67 years globally

Global airlines' grouping IATA has proposed increasing the upper age limit to 67 years for pilots who are operating multi-pilot commercial flights. Amid a shortage of available pilots compared to the rising demand spurred by aviation sector growth, the proposal has been made by IATA to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents around 350 airlines worldwide, including Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet. In a working paper titled 'Proposal to Raise the Multi-Pilot Commercial Air Transport Pilot Age Limit to 67 years', IATA said the growth of the aviation industry worldwide is causing the demand for pilots to outstrip supply. "Raising CAT (Commercial Air Transport) pilot age limits to allow more pilots to continue to work is aligned with 15 of the 17 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the initiative of the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Programme to ensure a suffici

Pilot union objects to the government's call for a global code of conduct

A booming aviation market is seen as key to supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aviation goals, but India is short of experienced pilots

Govt seeks global 'code of conduct' to curb poaching of pilots, cabin crew

India, one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, is wrestling with a shortage of experienced pilots

DGCA sets up expert panel to plan multi-crew pilot licence in India

Unlike current CPL training, MPL focuses on airline-specific, simulator-led, multi-crew operations from the outset through integrated airline partnerships

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

Indian-origin Delta pilot arrested in US on child sex abuse charges

Delta co-pilot Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, was arrested in San Francisco after landing; charged with five felony counts of child abuse, bail set at $5 million

Air India: DGCA audit flags 51 safety lapses, training, and crew gaps

DGCA audit finds 51 safety issues at Air India, including poor pilot training, unauthorised simulators, and rostering flaws. Tata-owned airline under scrutiny after recent fatal crash

'Not factual': FIP sends notice to WSJ, Reuters over AI171 report coverage

The Federation of Indian Pilots has sent legal notices to Wall Street Journal and Reuters, accusing them of misleading coverage of preliminary findings of AI171 crash, and demanding a public apology

Pilots seek clarity over crash probe, say speculation impacting morale

Pilots and cabin crew members from across airlines said they hoped for more transparency and representation in AAIB, which they believed would help prevent the stress caused by widespread speculation

Pilots' organisation urges inclusion in Air India crash probe as observer

The request comes a day after media reports surfaced alleging that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had turned off the fuel switches moments before the Air India crash

Air India junior pilot asked captain why he turned off fuel switches: WSJ

according to the Wall Street Journal report, the first officer expressed surprise that the fuel switches were off and then panicked, while the captain seemed to remain calm

AI-171 crew deserve respect, not unfounded character judgement: ALPA India

Pilots' grouping ALPA-India on Thursday said the crew of the crashed AI 171 flight made every possible effort to protect the passengers onboard and they deserve respect, not unfounded character judgements. The Air Line Pilots' Association - India (ALPA India) has been demanding a transparent probe into the crash that killed 260 people on June 12. Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft enroute from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed into a building soon after take off and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) came out with its preliminary report into the accident on July 12. "Pilots are trained professionals who carry the responsibility of hundreds of lives with dedication and dignity. "The crew of AI 171 made every possible effort -- till their very last breath -- to protect the passengers on board and minimize harm on the ground. They deserve respect, not unfounded character judgments," ALPA India said in a statement. While the preliminary report does not give any conclus

Pilots' grouping flags concerns over AAIB initial report on AI plane crash

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) on Thursday asked the government to reassess possible technical misinterpretation or mechanical faults in Air India's Boeing 787-8 plane that crashed last month and sought inclusion of subject matter experts in the probe. Flagging concerns about Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary report into the crash that killed 260 people on June 12, the federation said the report failed to sufficiently consider or acknowledge two plausible and previously documented technical scenarios, either of which could have triggered an automated shutdown of both engines. FIP has written a letter to the civil aviation ministry raising various concerns related to the crash probe and the preliminary report, according to a source. While appreciating the timely release of the preliminary findings, the federation also said the initial report appears to infer or suggest the possibility of pilot error, without presenting any conclusive evidence or ...

AI crash: Pilots' association slams 'reckless insinuation of pilot suicide'

Until the official investigation is concluded and the final report is published, any speculation, especially of such a grave nature, is unacceptable and must be condemned, the ICPA said

Dismay, unease among Air India pilots after preliminary crash report

They flag its 'vague' language and omission of key technical details

Days on, Ahmedabad plane crash weighs heavy on minds of pilots, crew

New DGCA norms call for MORE rest for pilots, revision of night duty RULEs, and directions to airlines to submit fatigue reports

DGCA seeks Air India pilots' training data, crashed plane dispatcher info

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation also asked all flying schools to conduct training compliance checks, according to the confidential memos, seen by Reuters

'We don't want to continue': Air India pilot returns flight to Hong Kong

The aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the same as the one involved in the brutal crash that killed 241 people out of 242 on board in Ahmedabad

Soon, DGCA may allow 12th pass students without science to fly aircrafts

Since the mid-1990s, only science students can pursue commercial pilot licences in India. The recommendation will be sent to the Union aviation ministry for approval

Govt reviews medical emergency protocols at airports after pilot's death

On April 9, an Air India Express pilot suffered a cardiac arrest at Delhi airport shortly after flying in from Srinagar. The airline later confirmed his passing