Bond and notice period for pilots justified only when airline has invested in training them: Air India CEO Wilson
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said that notice period and an employment bond for pilots is justified only when an airline has invested in training those pilots in a specific aircraft type.
“I think if an airline is investing in training people, then it's quite common practice that there is some sort of bond with the organization and if someone leaves before the agreed period, there is a compensatory mechanism for the airline that has invested. This is quite different when the pilot has been already trained by someone else and you pick up because you have a desperate need because you have not prepared or invested in increasing capability,” Wilson said when asked if there should be a notice period for pilots.
Wilson’s comment comes in backdrop of Akasa Air filing cases against Boeing 737 pilots which it said resigned without serving notice period of six months.
Many of the 43 pilots who have resigned since June have joined Air India Express-the low-cost subsidiary of Air India which also flies 737 planes
Akasa said it faced financial and reputational loss due to the sudden resignations and sought compensation of Rs 21 crore from each pilot. Akasa refused to comment.
Most of the 43 pilots who left Akasa are ex-Jet Airways or SpiceJet employees who were already trained in flying the Boeing 737.
Post Covid, SpiceJet has shrunk considerably and has been delaying salaries of its staff, forcing its pilots to move out from the airline.
However, the pilots had to undertake an operator conversion course which includes one week of ground classes and around five sessions in a simulator for proficiency check to demonstrate competence in carrying out normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures in real time situations.
“People
