Delhi HC notice to pilots' group on Air India plea

The Delhi High Court Tuesday issued notice to an aviators' union of the erstwhile Indian Airlines on the plea of the Air India management against court curbs on training pilots for the Boeing 777s that are flown on international routes.

The notice to Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA), which represents the pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines, was linked to the court's order restraining the Air India management from imparting training to its pilots.

The division bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajeev Sahai Endlaw sought the ICPA's response by Sep 4 on an appeal of Air India against Justice Suresh Kait's May 11 order.

Justice Kait stayed the further training of pilots to fly the Boeing 777 till the implementation of recommendations of a panel on human resource-related issues linked to the Indian Airlines' merger with the Air India.

Advocate Lalit Bhasin, filing the appeal for the nation carrier, pleaded that the single judge was wrong in staying the training being imparted to the Air India Pilots for the Boeing 777.

"Staying the training will cause huge financial loss," said the appeal.

As per the Air India management, 200 commanders and 200 first officers needed to undergo training for the Boeing 777 but at present only 64 commanders and 62 co-pilots were attending the capsule.

The division bench earlier declined to hear the national carrier's appeal saying: "Pilots have no right to get training as they were on strike demanding career progression. Let them call off the strike then we will hear".

Justice Kait May 11 decided the plea filed by the erstwhile Indian Airlines' pilots seeking a stay on the ongoing training and also directed the Air India management to impart training to them as well along with their counterparts in Air India for the rank of commanders for Boeing 777.

The ICPA had moved the high court alleging that Air India had not been treating dealing it on par with Indian Pilots' Guild, an association of Air India pilots.