India’s Regulator Cautions Air India Over Pilot Duty Violations

• Three executives to be dismissed due to failures related to Bengaluru to London flights.
• The June 20 directive mentions “systematic failures in scheduling protocols and oversights.”
• Air India announces it has executed the directives from the civil aviation head.

India’s aviation regulator has reprimanded Air India for “repeated and significant violations” concerning pilot duty roster management and oversight, as per government documents accessed by Reuters on Saturday.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) instructed Air India to dismiss three executives responsible for crew scheduling: a divisional vice president, a chief manager of crew scheduling, and a planning executive. These actions were prompted by incidents involving flights from Bengaluru to London on May 16 and 17, which exceeded the maximum pilot flight time limit of 10 hours.

The June 20 directive highlighted “systemic failures in scheduling protocols and oversights” and criticized the lack of strict disciplinary actions against those accountable.

This latest enforcement by the aviation authority occurs separately from the tragic crash earlier this month involving an Air India Boeing 787-8, which resulted in the loss of all but one of the 242 individuals onboard. However, it reflects an increased scrutiny of the airline.

On Thursday, Reuters reported that the authorities also cautioned Air India for violating safety regulations after three of its Airbus aircraft flew while overdue for checks on emergency escape slide equipment.

In comments provided to Reuters, Air India affirmed that it has adhered to the DGCA’s directives and stated that the chief operations officer will now directly oversee the Integrated Operations Control Centre.

“Air India is dedicated to ensuring full compliance with safety protocols and standards,” the airline added.

The DGCA’s order noted that Air India voluntarily acknowledged the violations.

After being acquired by the Tata Group in 2022, Air India confronts substantial challenges as it seeks to improve its reputation following years of customer criticism regarding service quality.

Indian regulators, similar to those in other countries, often impose fines on airlines for compliance failures. In February, the government disclosed to Parliament that 23 instances of safety violations were reported last year, with approximately half—12 instances—pertaining to Air India and its subsidiary, Air India Express. The largest fine issued was $127,000 to Air India for having “insufficient oxygen on board” on certain international flights.