Latest news with #pilots
The Guardian
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Air India under growing pressure as safety record scrutinised after deadly crash
Just three years ago, it looked as if the fortunes of Air India were finally looking up. After decades of being regarded as a floundering drain on the Indian taxpayer, with a reputation for shabby services and dishevelled aircraft, a corporate takeover pledged to turn it into a 'world class global airline with an Indian heart' that would outgrow all its domestic and international competitors. Yet, after tragedy struck on 12 June, the airline is instead facing critical questions about its ability to operate safely, throwing its long-term ambitions into jeopardy. It was less than a minute after Air India flight 171, bound for London, took off from Ahmedabad airport that it lost momentum and dropped from the sky, exploding into flames, killing 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. So far, only a preliminary report into the crash by the Indian aviation authority has been released, which found that both switches that controlled fuel going into the engines were cut off just after take-off, causing the plane to fatally lose altitude. Focus has reportedly turned to the actions of the pilots, amid unanswered questions over whether the switches were moved manually or due to a faulty mechanism. The report did not recommend action against Boeing, the manufacturer of the plane. In the weeks after the crash, Air India has faced growing scrutiny after attention has turned to its own recent alleged chequered safety record. Last week, the Indian government began holding direct meetings with senior Air India management, calling for better oversight on safety and engineering. It came as India's aviation watchdog issued four show-cause notices to the airline last week, citing 29 safety-related violations over the past year. These breaches include lapses in crew duty norms, fatigue management and training oversight. They were based on disclosures made by the airline itself. 'Despite repeated warnings and earlier enforcement measures, systemic problems in compliance monitoring, crew scheduling and training oversight remain unresolved,' stated one notice. The aviation watchdog warned the airline that continued non-compliance could leave them facing heavy financial penalties or even the removal of senior executives. It also emerged that in the days after Air India 423 crash, over 100 Air India pilots went on medical leave, leading to questions over the company's handling of the welfare and morale of its pilots. One senior Indian government official with direct knowledge of the notices told Reuters the administration was concerned that 'Air India is taking things for granted' adding: 'We have given them many warnings.' Air India acknowledged receipt of the notices. 'We will respond to the said notices within the stipulated period. We remain committed to the safety of our crew and passengers,' they said in a statement in response. It was late 2021 when one of India's largest conglomerates, the Tata Goup – which founded the airline back in 1932 – agreed to pay about $2 to buy back Air India from the government, pledging to restore it to its former glory. For decades, the legacy Indian airline had languished under state ownership and overturning years of neglect and underfunding was seen as a gargantuan task; at the time of the takeover, its newly appointed CEO Campbell Wilson said the airline was in an 'absolute shambles'. But Tata immediately began to make major moves to invest in, modernise and expand Air India's fleet. Billons of dollars worth of new planes were ordered and it began a multimillion dollar refit of some of its older planes. A merger was also announced with an emerging, successful airline Vistara. Recently the airline had shown signs that its losses were narrowing. However, while the cause of the crash in June has yet to be confirmed, it has already proved damaging for Air India and Tata, shaking consumer confidence and shining a light on a series of operational challenges and mishaps involving their aircraft. Over the past six months, Air India received 13 notices for multiple safety violations and incidents. Recent incidents included a fire in the power unit of an Airbus A321 that had just landed from Hong Kong to Delhi, a Kochi-Mumbai flight that veered off the runaway and suffered damage to an engine cover, and a Delhi-Kolkata flight was forced to abort take-off at the last minute. Despite the pledged upgrades, customer complaints about the standard of Air India aircraft – including dishevelled and uncomfortable interiors, broken armrests, faulty entertainment systems and frequent delays on international flights – have also continued, sometimes with significant consequences; in March, Air India Flight 126 from Chicago to Delhi had to turn back after 10 hours when 11 out of the plane's 12 toilets became clogged. In June last year, hundreds of cabin crew working for Air India express went on strike over working conditions. The budget airline is also now under investigation by the EU's aviation agency after reports it did not change the engine parts of an Airbus A320 in a timely manner. In a memo to Air India staff after the release of the preliminary report into June's crash, CEO Wilson emphasised that it had found 'no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines, and that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed'. Air India also found 'no issues' with the fuel switches after it completed a full inspection of its Boeing planes. A full report is due next year. Jitender Bhargava, a former Air India executive, said that most major international airlines had faced similar periods of scrutiny but emphasised that the airline had a responsibility to be open and transparent. 'They need to clearly spell out what steps they are taking: for the families of the victims who want closure, for the operators of Boeing planes who want answers and for the millions and millions of people who watched footage of that plane come crashing to the ground on their televisions around the world,' he said. Nonetheless, Bhargava believed this would only be a 'temporary setback' for Air India's ambitions. 'It's always the case that after such an incident, the regulatory agency is on their toes and an airline faces greater pressure surveillance for its safety record,' he said. 'It's not a reflection on the overall safety track record of Air India.'
The Herald
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald
'It's not a straightforward job': Pilots seek predictability as Solidarity rejects latest FlySaFair wage offer
Since the introduction of the new rostering system, FlySafair pilots are no longer able to plan their off-time in advance. TimesLIVE spoke to a pilot on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, after trade union Solidarity's rejection of the company's latest wage offer. A pilot who has been in the industry for more than 15 years told TimesLIVE that a year ago the airline introduced a new rostering system to 'optimise the way that the crew is neutralised'. He said before the new system, pilots worked according to what they called a pattern roster, where they worked for six days, rested for two days, and then worked another six days and rested for three days. This allowed them to predict when they would have off days, enabling them to plan their leave and family events. What they had now introduced was deemed to be a flexible pattern roster with no obvious pattern in the roster algorithm to allow pilots to work out their off days and generally worked on a five-day schedule. ' You fly for a maximum amount of five days, but you have no say when your off days will be. I t becomes a variable pattern. The pilots are struggling to forecast when their off days will be and it's very difficult to make family commitments and to schedule your off time effectively,' said the pilot. FlySafair said on Sunday that the primary point of disagreement centres on the union's demand for the implementation of fixed scheduling rules. 'While the intention behind these proposals is to improve work-life balance, their combined effect would substantially limit the airline's ability to roster pilots efficiently. 'This could, in turn, negatively affect both passengers and the wider crew. As a constructive alternative, FlySafair proposed the formation of an independently chaired joint roster committee comprising both pilot and company representatives. 'This body would be empowered to test and refine proposed scheduling rules in a live environment before implementation — ensuring that any changes are carefully evaluated for their impact on productivity, safety and overall wellbeing,' said the airline. It said that it continues to operate a stable but reduced flight schedule as the new week begins, with more pilots returning to duty each day. The pilot said the impasse was worsened by the fact that they don't employ the correct number of pilots, which then affects the amount of leave that the pilots can take. 'If you work a roster and the leave issues together, you know, it becomes increasingly difficult, you can't forecast your off-time, but you also can't get leave. T he guys are left with very little options in that sense,' he said. He added that pilots' work is not a normal 8am to 4pm job and the new roster adds to fatigue. During a typical week, from day one to day three, they could start very early and suddenly from day four and five be expected to fly from midday till midnight. 'When night-time comes around on day three or four, because you have been awake early in the morning already, you are tired,' he said. According to the pilot, many studies have been done about circadian rhythms and how pilot fatigue needs to be managed. He blamed the airline for allegedly not sticking to industry best practice.
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Air India under growing pressure as safety record scrutinised after deadly crash
Just three years ago, it looked as if the fortunes of Air India were finally looking up. After decades of being regarded as a floundering drain on the Indian taxpayer, with a reputation for shabby services and dishevelled aircraft, a corporate takeover pledged to turn it into a 'world class global airline with an Indian heart' that would outgrow all its domestic and international competitors. Yet, after tragedy struck on 12 June, the airline is instead facing critical questions about its ability to operate safely, throwing its long-term ambitions into jeopardy. It was less than a minute after Air India flight 423, bound for London, took off from Ahmedabad airport that it lost momentum and dropped from the sky, exploding into flames, killing 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. So far, only a preliminary report into the crash by the Indian aviation authority has been released, which found that both switches that controlled fuel going into the engines were cut off just after take-off, causing the plane to fatally lose altitude. Focus has reportedly turned to the actions of the pilots, amid unanswered questions over whether the switches were moved manually or due to a faulty mechanism. The report did not recommend action against Boeing, the manufacturer of the plane. In the weeks after the crash, Air India has faced growing scrutiny after attention has turned to its own recent alleged chequered safety record. Last week, the Indian government began holding direct meetings with senior Air India management, calling for better oversight on safety and engineering. It came as India's aviation watchdog issued four show-cause notices to the airline last week, citing 29 safety-related violations over the past year. These breaches include lapses in crew duty norms, fatigue management and training oversight. They were based on disclosures made by the airline itself. 'Despite repeated warnings and earlier enforcement measures, systemic problems in compliance monitoring, crew scheduling and training oversight remain unresolved,' stated one notice. The aviation watchdog warned the airline that continued non-compliance could leave them facing heavy financial penalties or even the removal of senior executives. It also emerged that in the days after Air India 423 crash, over 100 Air India pilots went on medical leave, leading to questions over the company's handling of the welfare and morale of its pilots. One senior Indian government official with direct knowledge of the notices told Reuters the administration was concerned that 'Air India is taking things for granted' adding: 'We have given them many warnings.' Air India acknowledged receipt of the notices. 'We will respond to the said notices within the stipulated period. We remain committed to the safety of our crew and passengers,' they said in a statement in response. It was late 2021 when one of India's largest conglomerates the Tata Goup – which founded the airline back in 1932 – agreed to pay about $2 to buy back Air India from the government, pledging to restore it to its former glory. For decades, the legacy Indian airline had languished under state ownership and overturning years of neglect and underfunding was seen as a gargantuan task; at the time of the takeover; its newly appointed CEO Campbell Wilson said the airline was in an 'absolute shambles'. But Tata immediately began to make major moves to invest in, modernise and expand Air India's fleet. Billons of dollars worth of new planes were ordered and it began a multimillion dollar refit of some of its older planes. A merger was also announced with an emerging, successful airline Vistara. Recently the airline had shown signs that its losses were narrowing. However, while the cause of the crash in June has yet to be confirmed, it has already proved damaging for Air India and Tata, shaking consumer confidence and shining a light on a series of operational challenges and mishaps involving their aircraft. Over the past six months, Air India received 13 notices for multiple safety violations and incidents. Recent incidents included a fire in the power unit of an Airbus A321 that had just landed from Hong Kong to Delhi, a Kochi-Mumbai flight that veered off the runaway and suffered damage to an engine cover, and a Delhi-Kolkata flight was forced to abort take-off at the last minute. Despite the pledged upgrades, customer complaints about the standard of Air India aircraft – including dishevelled and uncomfortable interiors, broken armrests, faulty entertainment systems and frequent delays on international flights – have also continued, sometimes with significant consequences; in March, Air India Flight 126 from Chicago to Delhi had to turn back after 10 hours when 11 out of the plane's 12 toilets became clogged. In June last year, hundreds of cabin crew working for Air India express went on strike over working conditions. The budget airline is also now under investigation by the EU's aviation agency after reports it did not change the engine parts of an Airbus A320 in a timely manner. In a memo to Air India staff after the release of the preliminary report into June's crash, CEO Wilson emphasised that it had found 'no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines, and that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed'. Air India also found 'no issues' with the fuel switches after it completed a full inspection of its Boeing planes. A full report is due next year. Jitender Bhargava, a former Air India executive, said that most major international airlines had faced similar periods of scrutiny but emphasised that the airline had a responsibility to be open and transparent. 'They need to clearly spell out what steps they are taking: for the families of the victims who want closure, for the operators of Boeing planes who want answers and for the millions and millions of people who watched footage of that plane come crashing to the ground on their televisions around the world,' he said. Nonetheless, Bhargava believed this would only be a 'temporary setback' for Air India's ambitions. 'It's always the case that after such an incident, the regulatory agency is on their toes and an airline faces greater pressure surveillance for its safety record,' he said. 'It's not a reflection on the overall safety track record of Air India.'
CNN
a day ago
- Business
- CNN
Spirit Airlines to furlough 270 pilots, demote 140 more on downsized schedule
FacebookTweetLink Spirit Airlines said on Monday that it will furlough about 270 pilots while demoting another 140, as the cash-strapped budget carrier looks to scale down its workforce to match a downsized schedule. The furloughs will go into effect on November 1, while designation downgrades for captains will take place on October 1, the company told Reuters in an emailed statement. 'We are taking necessary steps to ensure we operate as efficiently as possible as part of our efforts to return to profitability,' the airline said. The announcement, first reported by Bloomberg News, comes as Spirit tries to overhaul its business to move away from its no-frills image and rebrand as a premium airline. The Florida-based carrier had filed for bankruptcy protection last November, following years of losses, heavy debt, and failed merger attempts. It emerged from bankruptcy in March. 'Spirit continues to shrink, and with it, the value of pilot seniority and Spirit careers continues to erode,' said Captain Ryan Muller, chairman of the Spirit unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, adding that this marks the third round of pilot furloughs and downgrades since September 2024. The union said it is working on a third Furlough Mitigation Memorandum of Understanding to pursue voluntary options to reduce the scope of the furloughs and preserve pilot careers.
CNN
a day ago
- Business
- CNN
Spirit Airlines to furlough 270 pilots, demote 140 more on downsized schedule
Spirit Airlines said on Monday that it will furlough about 270 pilots while demoting another 140, as the cash-strapped budget carrier looks to scale down its workforce to match a downsized schedule. The furloughs will go into effect on November 1, while designation downgrades for captains will take place on October 1, the company told Reuters in an emailed statement. 'We are taking necessary steps to ensure we operate as efficiently as possible as part of our efforts to return to profitability,' the airline said. The announcement, first reported by Bloomberg News, comes as Spirit tries to overhaul its business to move away from its no-frills image and rebrand as a premium airline. The Florida-based carrier had filed for bankruptcy protection last November, following years of losses, heavy debt, and failed merger attempts. It emerged from bankruptcy in March. 'Spirit continues to shrink, and with it, the value of pilot seniority and Spirit careers continues to erode,' said Captain Ryan Muller, chairman of the Spirit unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, adding that this marks the third round of pilot furloughs and downgrades since September 2024. The union said it is working on a third Furlough Mitigation Memorandum of Understanding to pursue voluntary options to reduce the scope of the furloughs and preserve pilot careers.
