Chennai: At a time when the ministry of civil aviation is struggling to maintain the safety record of aviation in the country, Air India management has given a clean chit to a pilot who was grounded for using a mobile phone inside the cockpit. She was also found to be at fault for not having taken a breathalyzer test before a later flight.
The DGCA investigation is yet to be completed against the co-pilot. As per a directive from the aviation regulator, the airline has grounded the pilot for three months. The airline management, meanwhile, has issued a letter certifying that the co-pilot's conduct has been good, just two days after she was found to have operated a flight without signing her pre-flight medical check (PFMC). She signed it after completing the flight from Chennai.
"This is a serious lapse, but the management is trying to protect the pilot because they cannot afford to have a pilot grounded, since that would put operations under strain," said an official. Sources said that the letter has come from general manager's office and sent to DGCA. "Issuing a good conduct letter when a complaint exists against a pilot is not fair," the official said.
24/04/14 V Ayyappan/Times of India
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The DGCA investigation is yet to be completed against the co-pilot. As per a directive from the aviation regulator, the airline has grounded the pilot for three months. The airline management, meanwhile, has issued a letter certifying that the co-pilot's conduct has been good, just two days after she was found to have operated a flight without signing her pre-flight medical check (PFMC). She signed it after completing the flight from Chennai.
"This is a serious lapse, but the management is trying to protect the pilot because they cannot afford to have a pilot grounded, since that would put operations under strain," said an official. Sources said that the letter has come from general manager's office and sent to DGCA. "Issuing a good conduct letter when a complaint exists against a pilot is not fair," the official said.
24/04/14 V Ayyappan/Times of India
