Air India is warned over roster breaches for pilots

India’s aviation safety watchdog has criticised Air India for repeated and serious violations” of pilot duty time regulations and has ordered the removal of three senior officials involved in crew scheduling.

- SHAHANA YASMIN

In an order given on Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) told the Tata Group-owned airline to immediately strip a divisional vice-president, a chief manager of crew scheduling, and a planning executive of all responsibilities related to rostering.

It also instructed the airline to begin disciplinary proceedings against them without delay.

The order raised concerns over "repeated and serious violations voluntarily disclosed by Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements".

"Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible," it said.

These breaches came to light during a post-transition review of the airline's switch between two different software systems for managing its crew scheduling, according to the Press Trust of India.