AI pilot, management soap opera gearing up for re-run

Chennai: Air India's never-ending soap opera of striking pilots and a professionally clueless management run by government functionaries is warming up for another re-run with pilots claiming that they have been denied performance-related incentives in their salaries, which account for 90% of their total earnings. They claim stress related to such issues may cause accidents in the future.

The pilots were paid only 10% of their salaries for March and April, and the entire pay for May is pending.

By way of threatening noises the pilots now say they should not be held responsible for accidents caused by stress in the cockpit.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) has shot off a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), asking for immediate intervention. "In case of any unfortunate incident or accident, the entire blame will be on the current chairman and managing director and the incompetent top management of Air India and nobody else," the letter said.

The letter added that in the interests of maintaining flight safety, DGCA should ask AI to resolve all issues with the employees.

Pilots say they are under extreme stress as they are facing severe hardship and many are unable to pay home or car loans as they have been denied a substantial portion of their salaries. Pilots say these issues are being discussed in cockpits and so has an impact on flight safety.