Scores of jobless co-pilots from the defunct Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) on Thursday appeared for written tests conducted by GoAir. The job seekers ranged from those with minimum (300 hours) and maximum hours of flying experience on Airbus 320.
Eighty of the co-pilots in the fray were from KFA as both the airlines operate similar aircraft. The general norm has been that only freshers are subject to written tests, while experienced pilots simply attend a walk-in session and get through merit.
According to GoAir's flight operations department, the airline is hiring captain and senior captain level staff. “It is a routine test. Presuming there are 10 pilots in the fray, we want to absorb the best among them. Hence the test,” a senior GoAir official said.
The pilots are sore that GoAir had conducted similar exams for experienced pilots on June 29, but never declared the results. “I am unable to understand what happened to that test. Were they completely dissatisfied with that lot?” asked a KFA pilot who had appeared for the previous test.
A senior official from GoAir said that the entire batch interviewed on June 29 had to be dropped as a proposed deal with an international carrier fell through. Currently, GoAir, enjoys a market share of 7 per cent vis-à-vis 17.8 per cent of SpiceJet and 27 per cent of market leader Indigo.
Pilots who underwent that test were told that the key objective was to position the airline on two main factors that passengers look for - air fare and punctuality record.
Capt Shakti Lumba, former operations head of Indigo, said, “In India, qualification and ability do not necessarily go together.” He added, “As an airline, I need both, an examination to check their knowledge and a simulator test to check their skills. All of them meet minimum criteria, but that does not mean all of them are competent.”
A former Air India pilot, now with Kingfisher said, “Induction by GoAir appears to be mood-based. There have been cases where the test was by-passed.” Among the airlines, AI and Indigo have compulsory written tests for pilots.
“Air India’s test is believed to be the toughest among Indian carriers,” Capt Ujwal Thengdi said.
Grounded Kingfisher co-pilots hope to soar high again with GoAir, News - City - Mumbai Mirror