India nok en gang - Utmerker seg med merkelige rules and regs.

Indian pilots who did not serve notice period to join foreign airlines could lose their licences


(DGCA) has asked all Indian carriers to give a complete list of commanders ho have joined foreign airlines without giving the mandatory six-month notice.

NEW DELHI: This is possibly one of the strongest steps taken to prevent poaching of highly trained HR resource that the Indian aviation industry needs, especially as it is all set to expand its wings with new airlines.

Indian commanders who have joined foreign airlines without giving the mandatory six-month notice before quitting their desi employers could now end up losing their licences. The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has asked all Indian carriers to give a complete list of such commanders.

"India faces a serious shortage of commanders while we have surplus co-pilots. The country has in all about 1,200-1,500 commanders, of which 277 are expats. We want to phase out all expat pilots. In such a situation, people leaving without giving notice and denying airlines to make alternate arrangements is not acceptable," said a senior DGCA official.

14 aircraft grounded in 2014 after DGCA surprise checks (India)

Civil Aviaition Minister Pusapati said 2,394 surveillance audits and 20 regulatory audits have been planned under annual surveillance programme during 2014.

NEW DELHI: A total of 14 aircraft have been grounded by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation this year following surprise checks conducted as part of its oversight activity to ensure strict compliance of safety regulations.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati said in Lok Sabha that the aircraft were grounded after DGCA conducted 55 surprise special surveillance drive till June.

"Safety is a prime concern. There is no compromise on safety and we are second to none in the world in the matter of aircraft security," he said during Question Hour.

DGCA carries out surprise checks to ensure strict compliance of safety regulations in aircraft.

The Civil Aviation Minister said 2,394 surveillance audits and 20 regulatory audits have been planned under annual surveillance programme during 2014.

Interestingly, no aircraft was grounded between 2011 and 2013 despite 820 surprise checks of aircraft.

The Minister said a total of 277 foreign pilots are currently working in different aviation companies, including 121 in Jet AirwaysBSE 1.20 % -- the highest among all airlines.

Replying to a supplementary, the Minister said government is making every effort to increase connectivity in all parts of the country.