Were AI pilots trained on Airbus post-merger: HC

The Bombay high court on Thursday asked Air India (AI) whether its pilots were offered training on the 46 Airbuses delivered after the merger with Indian Airlines (IA).

The Bombay high court on Thursday asked Air India (AI) whether its pilots were offered training on the 46 Airbuses delivered after the merger with Indian Airlines (IA).

HT Image

A division bench of justice DK Deshmukh and justice RY Ganoo was hearing a petition filed by the Indian Pilots Guild (earlier the Air India pilots), who have locked horns with the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (of the erstwhile Indian Airlines) over the proposed 1:1 policy adopted by the national carrier to fill its flight crew requirement.

The court had earlier suggested that the two pilots' associations consider reaching a consensus for training on Boeing 787, which is to be delivered soon.

According to the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) counsel Jamshed Mistry, the court was informed that the DM Dharmadhikari committee report, which is looking into Air India wage issues, was submitted to the government. The court had earlier asked whether the report would help in resolving the problem.

The IPG contended that the IA pilots did not have the experience to fly the wide bodies of Boeing 787 aircrafts and hence the cost and time of training them would be four-fold compared to the AI pilots.