Pilot Rest: DGCA Raps Air India Over Violations; 112 Pilots Reported Sick Days After Gujarat Crash: Govt
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New Delhi: To a question from Bharatiya Janata Party's Hardoi MP Jai Prakash in Lok Sabha, on whether in the aftermath of the Air India-171 crash on June 12, Air India has been experiencing mass sick reporting by its flight crew members, the government has noted in its reply that the carrier reported a "minor increase in sick leaves reported by pilots" in the aftermath of the incident.
On June 16, a total of 112 pilots reported sick, comprising of 51 Commanders (P1) and 61 First Officers (P2).
The Telegraph has reported that Air India has a strength of around 3,500 pilots and that on an average, around 60-70 pilots are on leave every day.
Prakash had also asked whether the government has taken remedial measures such as holding post-trauma mental health workshops to mitigate their stress.
The government pointed to a February 2023 medical circular on mental health of flight crews and ATCOs by the DGCA, which lays down guidelines for operators (scheduled and non-scheduled) and DGCA-empanelled medical examiners.
It said that quick and effective methods to assess mental health that can easily be performed by the DGCA empanelled medical examiners. "Introduction of a separate, standalone and customised training capsule for the flight crew/ATCOs to recognise and manage the adverse effects of mental health conditions is also advised to all the airlines operators," it added.
Discussions on India's aviation sector and particularly its pilots have been rife ever since the June 12 crash. Then, a preliminary report on the crash by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said that the fuel control switches on the crashed plane had almost simultaneously flipped from ‘run’ to ‘cutoff’ after takeoff. In uncertain terms, the AAIB report appeared to indicate that a pilot had a role to play in this – something that has been severely criticised by pilots’ bodies and experts, while at once sparking discussions on a deceased pilot’s mental health conditions.
Meanwhile, some news outlets, including PTI, have quoted sources to say that aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued four show cause notices to Air India for various violations related to cabin crew rest and duty norms, cabin crew training rules and operational procedures, a month after the airline made certain voluntary disclosures to the watchdog.
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