Irked AI pilots call for DGCA Intervention

CHENNAI: Pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines are a worried lot. The Air India management has not paid their salaries for three months. Add to this, the management’s decision to cut their salaries for the days they were on strike -- a move that goes against the promises made to the pilots during the peace talks.Expressing shock over how the management was going back on its word, the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA)  has written to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seeking his intervention and citing how nonpayment of salaries and indirect pressure were giving them stress. In a letter to Air India Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Arvind Jadhav, the ICPA said, “We have maintained peace and harmony in spite of being harassed and agitated by the management repeatedly. Our pilots and their families are not being allowed to make Staff on Leave tickets or travel for emergencies, vacation, or any other joyous occasions, which is a clear case of victimisation and high-handedness on your part. You have once again succeeded in antagonising and agitating the pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines.” Subsequently, a letter was also sent to the DGCA. “As you are aware, in our field of work there is no scope for error. But, any human being put under such extreme stress is liable to perform poorly. Not only have we not been paid for three months, but also the small perks that existed in this airline have been snatched away from us. Leave alone the discrimination that we have been facing post the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines, we are now being unfairly victimised by our present chairman and managing director,” the ICPA stated, requesting intervention. The pilots’ association also added that in case of any unfortunate incident/accident, the entire blame would be on the CMD and the incompetent top management of Air India.