Thursday, September 26, 2013

Air India employees to complain to United States regulator Federal Aviation Administration on alleged violations

National carrier Air India and the country's regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation,  could be heading for some serious trouble and embarrassment as a section of the Air India employees plan to approach the American regulator Federal Aviation Administration on the alleged violations being regularly committed by Air India. The union also threatens that if the matter isn't resolved within days they would not just report the matter to the FAA but also stop serving meals in the entire length of the long haul flight. This comes at a time when the FAA after its security audit just recently has placed the DGCA on a notice period to correct the lapses. If the FAA is not satisfied by the corrective measures put in place by the DGCA then the Indian regulator could be downgraded and that could mean trouble in the form of security checks and restrictions for Air India and Jet Airways flights flying to the US.

The All India Cabin Crew Association talking exclusively to Headlines Today maintained that time and again they have tried to present the pending issues to the management but the matters have never been addressed. This the union maintains has demoralized the workers immensely. The union adds that violations have now become a regular in Air India and that the lives of the passengers and the crew are being put in danger. The union directly charges the management for the current situation.

Headlines Today is in the possession of the letter which has been written by the union to the DGCA. The letter states that AI with minimum crew is conducting a full meal service and liquor service on each sector of the narrow body. On the wide bodied aircraft it is up to three full meal service and liquor service in violation of DGCA rules which have fallen into deaf years.

The letter further states that the management at times provides one or two cabin crew over and above the minimum crew and expect the crew to conduct the meal service without providing service procedure thereby putting a huge burden on the crew leading to increase in their fatigue factor and having a direct bearing on flight safety.

The FAA in its recent audit had expressed dissatisfaction over the training and safety procedures of the DGCA and had given DGCA little time to put measures into place.

When contacted the DG maintained that he was in the US for a meeting and that he would look into the matter once he returns. He also maintained that he has not received any letter so far.

Industry experts maintain that if the DGCA is downgraded then it will be a huge embarrassment for the country and that the brand name of Air India which has already sunken so low would further get eroded.

Original article: http://indiatoday.intoday.in

No comments:

Post a Comment