Pilot shortage hits Jet Airways operations
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Pilot shortage hits Jet Airways operations
Over 150 Jet Airways flights have been delayed since Sunday, some by over two hours, largely due to an acute shortage of pilots, with flights originating from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport hit the hardest, reports Roudra Bhattacharya in New Delhi.
The development comes against the backdrop of regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation suspending two Jet pilots last month after issuing notices to 131 pilots for not meeting mandatory licensing requirements. Jet has over 1,000 pilots, while subsidiary JetLite has 189 pilots.
“Around 181 flights have been delayed since Sunday. On Monday, 12 flights were delayed in Mumbai by 3 pm, which led 38 more to be affected in the chain. In fact, 9W 358 (a Delhi-Mumbai flight) was delayed by two hours and 20 minutes. The largest pilot shortage is for Jet’s narrow-body fleet,” said a person close to the development. A delay in one flight usually leads to several other flights also getting pushed back since the same aircraft is often used for multiple sectors.
Another source added, “This is happening because of DGCA’s flight duty time limitations. As per the rules, a pilot can fly a maximum of 120 hours a month and 1,000 hours a year. So if he flies 100 hours a month he completes 1,000 hours in just 10 months and needs to rest for two months. There is a daily limit of eight hours of flying a day and a mandatory rest period after every flight. Jet pilots are flying on minimum rest.”
Jet Airways did not respond to an emailed questionnaire till the time of going to press.
Several irate passengers took to social media to vent their frustration. “Celebrating the take off of my @jetairways flight after 4 hrs delay. Beggars can’t be choosers. #fail,” said Naresh Jain (@nashjain) on Twitter. Another passenger, @Vikrant Singhvi said, “The reason for delay as per the ground staff: Shortage of Pilots! Is this the reason to delay a flight by an airlines like @jetairways 9W411.”
Incidentally, subsidiary JetLite (operates as JetKonnect) has excess pilots. But the parent Jet has been unable to absorb them to solve its crisis because of the “unfair terms” presented to them. In August, Jet offered JetLite pilots an option to transfer to the parent but said they will be put at the bottom of the seniority pool and may be shifted to any location around the country. Most of JetLite pilots have rejected this offer and the negotiations are still continuing.
Pilot shortage hits Jet Airways operations - Financial Express
The development comes against the backdrop of regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation suspending two Jet pilots last month after issuing notices to 131 pilots for not meeting mandatory licensing requirements. Jet has over 1,000 pilots, while subsidiary JetLite has 189 pilots.
“Around 181 flights have been delayed since Sunday. On Monday, 12 flights were delayed in Mumbai by 3 pm, which led 38 more to be affected in the chain. In fact, 9W 358 (a Delhi-Mumbai flight) was delayed by two hours and 20 minutes. The largest pilot shortage is for Jet’s narrow-body fleet,” said a person close to the development. A delay in one flight usually leads to several other flights also getting pushed back since the same aircraft is often used for multiple sectors.
Another source added, “This is happening because of DGCA’s flight duty time limitations. As per the rules, a pilot can fly a maximum of 120 hours a month and 1,000 hours a year. So if he flies 100 hours a month he completes 1,000 hours in just 10 months and needs to rest for two months. There is a daily limit of eight hours of flying a day and a mandatory rest period after every flight. Jet pilots are flying on minimum rest.”
Jet Airways did not respond to an emailed questionnaire till the time of going to press.
Several irate passengers took to social media to vent their frustration. “Celebrating the take off of my @jetairways flight after 4 hrs delay. Beggars can’t be choosers. #fail,” said Naresh Jain (@nashjain) on Twitter. Another passenger, @Vikrant Singhvi said, “The reason for delay as per the ground staff: Shortage of Pilots! Is this the reason to delay a flight by an airlines like @jetairways 9W411.”
Incidentally, subsidiary JetLite (operates as JetKonnect) has excess pilots. But the parent Jet has been unable to absorb them to solve its crisis because of the “unfair terms” presented to them. In August, Jet offered JetLite pilots an option to transfer to the parent but said they will be put at the bottom of the seniority pool and may be shifted to any location around the country. Most of JetLite pilots have rejected this offer and the negotiations are still continuing.
Pilot shortage hits Jet Airways operations - Financial Express
BUT, is there a shortage of qualified and experienced pilots who are of the standard Jet would wish to employ and who are willing to work for what they are offering ?
Looks like it to me.
Looks like it to me.
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Downgrade not the responsibility of 9W, but of the DGCAs's non compliance in completing the FAA's task card. Thus the freeze on all Indian carriers expansion plans to the U.S. Mind you I'm not defending Jets management woes, nor SWIP's influence on India's overall airline industry.
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Downgrade not the responsibility of 9W,yy but of the DGCAs's non compliance in completing the FAA's task card. Thus the freeze on all Indian carriers expansion plans to the U.S. Mind you I'm not defending Jets management woes, nor SWIP's influence on India's overall airline industry.
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Hypocrisy of Indian DGCA
There are various goofy issues here; on the one hand the undeniable primitive structure of Indian DGCA reflected in using former British Colony bungalows as their HQ in DEL; and naturally, the inefficient and tardy staff in delaying per seculorum all procedures and paperwork of whomever wants to serve this nation, including Indian nationals: If President Modi wants to compete with great economies, he needs fundamental restructuring, and you cannot blame the airlines, they succumb to this travesty of bureaucracy.
Pay is not the issue here, we have a problem of shortage of experienced pilots to fly the delicate SW Monsoon weather, and foreigners are not attracted due several risks ranging from health issues, to constant changes from DGCA criterias used in expelling them like they did in year 2012 without any compassion or notice whatsoever.
We also need bigger fleet to patch up domestic flying with innumerable delays. India continues to grow, and the narrow body fellas are flat out busy, but happy for those on the 1000 hr limit going on two months leave with full pay
Pay is not the issue here, we have a problem of shortage of experienced pilots to fly the delicate SW Monsoon weather, and foreigners are not attracted due several risks ranging from health issues, to constant changes from DGCA criterias used in expelling them like they did in year 2012 without any compassion or notice whatsoever.
We also need bigger fleet to patch up domestic flying with innumerable delays. India continues to grow, and the narrow body fellas are flat out busy, but happy for those on the 1000 hr limit going on two months leave with full pay
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There is NO shortage.
Just too many bean counters that still have not understood that if you offer COMPETITIVE T&Cs you will have enough pilots (qualified and experienced pilots!!) and no delayed flights.
CP
Just too many bean counters that still have not understood that if you offer COMPETITIVE T&Cs you will have enough pilots (qualified and experienced pilots!!) and no delayed flights.
CP
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I guess the Jet Airways pilots are ok with JetLite pilots getting stapled to the bottom of their seniority list?
They might want to rethink that strategy. EY could come in 5 years from now and pull the same tactic. If 9Ws massive losses continue, and they need yet aother bailout by EY, mgmt there could put such onerous terms on 9W pilots that they join the combined airline at the bottom.
AI and IA has been mired in the same issues for years. Instead of both pilot groups getting together for the greater good of creating alone massive UNIFIED list of both pilot groups, they attempt to roll the other side under the bus. I don't understand why professional Indian aviators are so ignorant of a fair approach to an integrated seniority list. I guess greed rules the day.
I suggest they rethink their approach to integration of JetLite pilots in the overall 9W list. Stop holding said pilots accountable for mgmt mistakes. Force management to integrate them via a fair process and let management deal with any associated issues. Afterall, it was management's wisdom that put the whole Air Sahara deal together. The pilots shouldn't be forced to fight over the process of being whipsawed.
Learn from the US, guys. You'll be better off in the long run.
I wish both sides well during this tough period.
They might want to rethink that strategy. EY could come in 5 years from now and pull the same tactic. If 9Ws massive losses continue, and they need yet aother bailout by EY, mgmt there could put such onerous terms on 9W pilots that they join the combined airline at the bottom.
AI and IA has been mired in the same issues for years. Instead of both pilot groups getting together for the greater good of creating alone massive UNIFIED list of both pilot groups, they attempt to roll the other side under the bus. I don't understand why professional Indian aviators are so ignorant of a fair approach to an integrated seniority list. I guess greed rules the day.
I suggest they rethink their approach to integration of JetLite pilots in the overall 9W list. Stop holding said pilots accountable for mgmt mistakes. Force management to integrate them via a fair process and let management deal with any associated issues. Afterall, it was management's wisdom that put the whole Air Sahara deal together. The pilots shouldn't be forced to fight over the process of being whipsawed.
Learn from the US, guys. You'll be better off in the long run.
I wish both sides well during this tough period.
