AI hit by new crisis as ICPA serves notice

The Hindu : NEW DELHI, September 18, 2012
SUJAY MEHDUDIA

Great injustice to pilots if AI alters FDTL without consulting us: ICPA

The Air India management and the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), part of the erstwhile Indian, are headed for a confrontation as the latter served a legal notice on the former for changing the flying duty hours in an “arbitrary” manner.

This comes after a 58-day strike by the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) about two months ago which impacted the international operations of Air India.

In the notice, the ICPA pointed out that Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) was an integral part of the service conditions as it clearly states the number of hours a pilot is supposed to fly in a fixed time period.

The notice states that starting with the settlement entered in 1993, the terms of the FDTL applicable to the ICPA have been revised regularly; first in 2001 and again in 2006.

“The agreements were further continued by virtue of the documents of the merger of 2007, most particularly the scheme of amalgamation, which provided that the pilots would not be subject to conditions less favourable to those existing at that point of time. Pilots came across news reports that the company is to unilaterally alter the FDTL without in any way consulting the ICPA. We believe that great injustice is being meted out to them by way of the proposed action. All the settlements are within the knowledge of both the company and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and, therefore, no unilateral alternation is permissible,” the notice states.

Pilots were not aware of the norms and regulations of the new scheme. Under these circumstances, any inadvertent violation on the part of pilots of the applicable norms and regulations is entirely at the risk and expense of the management, the statement says.

The notice comes after Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh asked the airline to strictly implement the FDTL and flying time limitations as per DGCA guidelines.

Aviation Ministry study

A recent study by the Ministry found that Air India pilots were flying just six-and-half hours a day against the laid down norm of nine hours.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3909041.ece#.UFg9xNbAM1c.blogger

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DGCA & DRI investigating corporates for customs evasion while using foreign-registered aircraft

27 Dec, 2011, 10.14AM IST, Deepshikha SikarwarDeepshikha Sikarwar,ET Bureau

 

NEW DELHI: Flying around in private planes registered overseas may be convenient and perhaps even fashionable in India Inc, but the country's aviation regulator and premier tax investigating agency are determined to force a crash-landing to possible misuses in this growing corporate fad.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) are investigating whether corporate groups and tycoons regularly using such foreign-registered aircraft within the country have complied with Customs rules applicable on the use of such planes, both in letter and spirit.

These rules bar foreign-registered aircraft from being kept in the country for more than six months, lest they attract import duties.

But the authorities say many of these planes are predominantly used in India, flown out to neighbouring countries before the six-month period and brought back again for use in India, avoiding paying Customs duty in the process.

"The DGCA had raised this issue... The DRI looked into the matter and has now initiated an investigation," said an official with the aviation regulator. A Customs department official confirmed that the DRI had initiated a formal investigation.

The DRI recently issued a show-cause notice to Bharat Hotels, owners of Lalit hotels, as part of its investigation into the use of foreign-registered aircraft within the country, a move that culminated in the company choosing to settle with the Customs authorities by paying .`21 crore as duty in cash and bank guarantees.

The company did not respond to ET's queries despite numerous reminders. The agency, which started looking into the issue after the DGCA wrote to the finance and civil aviation ministries in April this year about possible abuse of laws in the use of such aircraft, is working with a list that contains around a dozen corporate names.

This list, prepared by the aviation regulator, also details the type of aircraft and their usage patterns. The DGCA had been keeping a close watch on flight schedules and movements of many such aircraft. Many of the industrial groups named in the list told ET that they were in full compliance with the rules.

JetLite engineer suspended for mid-air oil leakage

The Hindu - New Delhi,December 27, 2011 - PTI

A JetLite engineer has been suspended pending investigation after he allegedly left behind a tool in the engine cavity of a Ranchi-Mumbai flight which led to oil leakage and closure of one of the two engines mid-air.

However, there was no threat to the 130 passengers on board flight S2-722 on November 13, an airline spokesperson maintained.

But the Boeing 737 landed at Nagpur under emergency conditions.

On getting indications about fuel leakage, the crew shut down an engine as per standard operating procedure before making an “uneventful and safe” landing.

The airline's internal probe board found that the oil leak and low-oil pressure warning from one engine was caused by leakages from a hole in a drive pad. The hole was caused by the rubbing of an expander tool which was left in the cavity during maintenance of the engine the previous night.

Acknowledging that “an engineer did not follow the recommended procedure in accordance with the maintenance manual,” the spokesperson said “this oversight led to loss of engine oil during the flight.

“After rectification of the technical snag, the aircraft has been put back into service. The engineer concerned has been suspended pending investigation of the incident by the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation,” the spokesperson said.

The DGCA is yet to finalise its probe report, sources said. — PTI

Delegation meets Minister

The Hindu - MADURAI,December 22, 2011

A delegation comprising members from Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants' Association met the Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh at New Delhi, who took charge on Sunday last.

Submitting a memorandum led by its president S.P. Jeyapragasam and others, the members impressed on the minister to take up on top priority commencement of direct international flights to and from Madurai airport, which was given a facelift a year ago .

Bearing in mind the scope for bigger operations, the Airports Authority of India has provided huge infrastructure spending a little over Rs 100 crore. In the event of Madurai airport getting the international airport status, passengers from many southern districts from as far as Kanyakumari, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli could benefit as presently, a majority of them depend on Tiruchi airport to reach destinations such as Sri Lanka, Gulf countries, Singapore and Malaysia.

The presence of Customs and additional CISF personnel should be sanctioned for the airport, the delegation said and urged the minister to get things moving at the earliest.

Ajit Singh takes charge

The Hindu - NEW DELHI,December 20, 2011

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday introduced the newly inducted Minister, Ajit Singh, in Parliament.

The Prime Minister first introduced the Minister in Rajya Sabha and then in the Lok Sabha. Members of both the Houses greeted him with thumping of desks. Mr. Singh, chief of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, was sworn in as Cabinet Minister on Sunday and given Civil Aviation.

Earlier, after taking charge, Mr. Singh said that Civil Aviation was a “sensitive” portfolio.

He held a meeting with top officials of his Ministry at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan.