Talk:Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators
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26-9-05
To M/s Indian Airlines Ltd., Commercial Department, IGI Airport, Tr-1’A’, New Delhi – 110 037
Subject: Your communication bearing No IGIA/COMML/ADMN/41/3441 dated 09.09.05.
Sir,
With reference to your captioned communication, kindly note as under:
1. Indian Airlines has failed to address the issues involved in my complaint, in the proper or correct spirit or intention, which should have been there. 2. Do not mind my saying so. The reason mentioned in your communications, is nothing but a lame excuse forwarded by someone from your Department, without due or proper application of mind to the issues raised in my complaint. 3. At the outset, I wish to mention that I do not desire any punitive action against any individual pilot. My aim is on a much higher plane, I would like a proper system to be in place for future occasion. 4. In particular the following aspects need to be noted: (a) The flight was announced and boarding started without the pilot being on board the aircraft. (b) Either the pre-flight tests and checking of instrument panel etc was not done at all or it was being done by co-pilot without the pilot being present in the aircraft. Both of which are totally not permissible. (c) The pilots are blue-eyed boys and perhaps because of their high salary and crucial role in the maximizing of trips of each aircraft, they are allowed to get away with everything – almost murder. (d) The commercial or other staff has virtually no power or authority to pull up the pilot. It was in these circumstances and that in order to strengthen the hands of the concerned Deptt of Indian Airlines, I spent almost one hour at the airport to frame the complaint and submit in writing. If Indian Airlines does not take proper and legitimate advantage of the effort made by me, that would be most unfortunate. (e) I understand it is customary for pilots / captains with their high and mighty attitude to simply flash a message that they are on the way and the co-pilot carries out either the entire (or most) of the checking. (f) This method may be working alright in practice, because there has been no reported mishap. But it is a wrong practice and must be strongly condemned. The pilot must be there in the cockpit at least half an hour before the scheduled departure of the flight. (g) There is even otherwise, a difference between the pilot and a simple member of the cabin crew. Cabin crew can reach even in the last minute and his / her colleagues can perhaps do a bit of extra work to cover up for their colleague coming late. However, such flexibility cannot be available to the pilot / co-pilot performing flying duties and pre-flight check. (h) On 11-7-05, I was myself held up for a while due to commotion of unattended bag near the scanner at security check point. When I got through, it was just about 5 minutes before the scheduled departure time of the aircraft. It was late for me but doubly so for the pilot (because the pilot has to reach at least half an hour in advance). Had he reached even 5-10 minutes before the scheduled departure time, he would have gone through just as I did. (i) The pilot took it so easy, that he simply sent a mobile message informing that he is on the way and thereafter was taking his own sweet time to reach the aircraft. Meanwhile, the order to cordon of got implemented. (j) The real question is what was the pilot doing at a location prior to the entry gate / security check area, even when the scheduled departure time of the aircraft had been already crossed. (k) Everyone is well aware that pilots are given the benefit of expedited security check, by-passing the waiting passengers, which priority given to pilots and cabin crew, is not grudged by anyone. However, despite this priority, if the pilots and cabin crew, are still not able to reach the aircraft even upto the scheduled departure time, that shows that the attitude is very very casual and things are taken for granted. (l) Let me assure you (and you can check up with CISF log book), the cordoning of direction, did not take place 40 minutes before the scheduled departure of the flight. This is further evidenced by the fact that every single economy class passenger was on board. So many of us boarded in the last 5-10 minutes before the departure. (m) There could be another reason also. When the pilot of this aircraft came, a number of other flying crew (from Goa) also came alongwith him. It is too much of a co-incidence to expect that all were late and all were held up by the CISF. It could well be that to accommodate those flying crew members/colleagues, one of whom was accompanied by his wife/lady companion, the pilot waited beyond the scheduled departure time to accommodate them on this flight. I would like that a copy of the passenger manifest of that flight, to further establish the malafide approach of the pilot. 5. The following precautionary measures should be immediately implemented to prevent any such incident going unnoticed in future:- i) Pilots should have to take a dummy boarding card personally so that the issuing computer should register the exact time at which the pilot came to the counter. ii) Webcam, which costs hardly Rs. 2000/- (or less if purchased in bulk) should be installed at the checking counter or at the security point, so that the photograph (with time) of each passenger as well as pilot and each crew member, should be recorded/registered and should remain available on the computerized record for a day or two, so that no pilot can take the chance of coming late. iii) When the boarding is announced, relevant papers should be signed there and then, by the pilot or the co-pilot as the case maybe (with reason for absence of Captain duly recorded). iv) Independently, the operation staff present at the aircraft, should carry a mobile phone and send a message as soon as the pilot starts entering the cockpit. The timing of the message in the mobile phone system, cannot be tampered with, and there will be a true and correct record for the whole world to see. In case, there is an incident similar to my complaint, and it is found that operation staff, on request or friendly lines, has flashed a message without the pilot actually reaching the aircraft, then such commercial staff member, should be charged sheeted and sacked. 6. The embarrassment ought to have been felt by Indian Airlines and by me. 7. A lady from the Customer Relations Department had spoken to me and had indicated that the matter will be properly pursued. If your response is proper pursuing, then I feel sorry, I depended on you. 8. I assure you that this is not a witchhunt against any particular pilot. But the aim of my complaint, is to improve the setup for the future. 9. Please rest assured that I will not permit Indian Airlines to sweep the dust under the carpet. I have taken trouble and spent time on that day. I am now taking trouble again and spending time on this communication, with the same aim. 10. However, my patience is limited and if I find if there is attempt to hush up the issue, I will take it to the Court, and then I will also also insist of punitive action against all those pilots who indulge in the acts of omissions as well as against those who are trying to cover it up. 11. Your regret conveyed without appreciating the exact and relevant nuances of the matter, is of no consequence; and I take no notice of the same, in the same manner as you have ignored the real and core issues involved in my complaint.
Kindly have the matter re-examined and revert to me about the action taken latest with him two weeks of receipt hereof.
I am constrained to forward a copy of this communication to the Secretary, Civil Aviation as well to the Pilots Guild, because I am sure every pilot worth his salt, will deprecate the actions of his own colleague involved in the present complaint.
Regards,
(S Mukerjee) D-87, Sector 36, NOIDA
CC: (I) CMD, Indian Airlines; (ii) Secretary, Civil Aviation; (iii) Chairman, Pilots Guild
