Is AI duping pilots and putting fliers at risk?

Mumbai: Something is rotten in Air India. Despite repeated warnings by the civil aviation regulator, the national carrier continues to flout air-safety norms on pilot fatigue. In April, five flights were operated by pilots who exceeded flying time permitted per shift.
Air India informed the pilots that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had waived the maximum flight time rule for the flights. But the director-general said he was not aware of the matter.
The maximum time at flight controls for a two-pilot crew required to perform more than one landing is nine hours. This is to prevent transient fatigue, a condition experienced after a period of work.
So, if a flight is likely to extend beyond nine hours, the airline has a legal responsibility to roster a third pilot. About 800 passengers were flown on the five flights, operated from April 7-18. The aircraft flew on sectors among Hyderabad, Calicut and Dammam; the nine-hour rule was breached during the India-return legs.
As per the flight plan, the aircraft were to complete both legs of a journey in nine hours. The plan was rigged because it undermined the influence of factors like head wind, weather and air traffic congestion.
19/05/11 Manju V/Times of India

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Categories: Air India May 2011