IndiGo Airlines - Sunita the Snake and her dog named Blue

[AB8TOR]

:= considering employment at IndiGo? Here's the latest 90 days. The senior American leadership (Bruce and Steve) have left the airline. Shockti, the DO has now taken his rightful place on the throne (Taj Mahal?). He rules like the man behind the curtain from the wizard of OZ. Its amazing to watch him stop or cancel flights so that pilots can report to him on thier hands and knees, while he belittles - sometimes even shouts so loudly others will leave the room. Daily operations have been left in the hands of the director of crew resources, Ms. (I hate men) Sunita the Snake. She loves to use bait and switch on pilots. She will try to dazzle you and then strike when the moment is right, usually right before you go on personal leave and also on paydays. Please don't think this is just one pilot venting. Call her lap dog, Blue (Peterson) and ask him how many pilots have disappeared from duty on the late night flight out of Delhi in the last 90 days. If he tells you anything less than 12 pilots check with the remaining ex-pats for more accurate accounting. We must all work from our own timing, and the guys staying are just waiting for better positioning. They too will leave as I and so many have recently. IndiGo will leave you feeling Blue.

This is a pure recruit and grind operation. They exploit as many ex-pats as possible and as hard as they can, seemingly waiting until they reach five years in operation. From there, owners plan to sell the company's international rights under Indian regulations. Forget going to see the US trained president/lawyer - Mr. Aditya, he is the owners son-in-law. He married his way in and displays no idea how to run an airline and no skill to manage people. He has no idea what an open door policy is. Aditay went so far as to have himself quoted in the Indian Times, saying he dislikes Ex-Pats and wants them all to leave India! Soon, IndiGo will be offering the highest paid contract in the industry for Airbus Captains. But beware, just because they offer doesn't mean they will pay...Contact the US Embassy, you will hear the horror stories from them. Myself and 3 pilots got the shaft recently, loosing as much as 2 months salary. The airline blamed an administrative error on pilots instead of the clown in admin. who was responsible for the paperwork. In 2008 they didn't pay pilot medical insurance even though they offered it on the contract. Many pilots have filed a complaint with both Delhi and Calkutta Embassy offices. They happily write the report but indicate they can do nothing. And the newspaper will not report their injustices either, a small group of Ex-pats tried this. :=

Summary, take this opportunity only with no other choice. Try not to think about the lack of personal hygiene as your meal comes delivered to the table. Expect to get the Indian sickness called Delhi Belly. Medical term: Tropical Spru can be found on Google. If you must go to India. Look at GoAir first. Good Luck :(

>>>>>>>>>>>> U P D A T E <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

At latest glance, notice over 4,500 readers to this post... cause for smile and perhaps pride... but I am only the messenger. It is their story - their legacy.

So now even the lap dog has left. Someone in reply had mentioned that he was not Airbus qualified. That's a true statement. Understand he came with promise the airline was going to send him. But conveniently every time his training slot got close the D.O. [Shockman] pulled another crisis out of his desk drawer and dropped it on the floor for his ever faithful dog named: Blue.

If you keep throwing the ball, even a dog will eventually lie down. :(
The dog named Blue tried everything in his power to recruit. But when he returned to his favorite stomping grounds, (The Philippines) and even they said thanks but no thanks... Ol' Blue knew his days were numbered :ugh:

So, The Snake remains.. I hear she has been quite jovial of late. btw: I also heard from a very good source, the reason she hates men so and makes it look natural in doing so, is because her husband has come out of the closet (likes young Indian boys). Hmmm. Imagine waking up to that laying next to you - suppose anything would be possible.

I also have learned they gave all the expat's a raise of $500. per month to their basic salary. :ooh: Say it isn't so, please. All of a sudden the LCC with a notorious reputation of "Grind 'em and cut 'em" the one that turns Nav. lights off during day operations to save cost of light bulbs has upped the pilot pay for no apparent reason. And the Snake has been put back in her wicker basket. Perhaps senior management is thinking it needs to change the "Charmer's Tune." Remember: From Simple Minds - Come Simple Ideas.

Aditya; sole search to find your nobility and be humble. Stand up for what is RIGHT... for the beliefs of your religion and mankind. Yes, you can have an LCC without "Transference of Costs" to your employees. Stop being a disgrace to your alma mater and the legal profession. There are many, many very good people at IndiGo that will be proud of you and will again be proud to be Indian. You can do this, unless of course you are so insecure that you are afraid your daddy in law will leave you without "honey."

Pilots by nature and training are very compassionate professionals. In fact, they can (and have many times) overcome great obstacles and adversity.
Make right the wrong done not by you but by previous management and your staff - and I will return as I said. My Citibank account is still open - You have the power to make a deposit. Together we can figure out where to put the snake basket. :ok:

The aviation community is watching. Just consider it cheap recruiting costs.

Yes, perhaps this is - Quite an Easy Offer.

That's because I don't think you possess := the courage and intestinal fortitude required of such nobility.

[Capt Apache]

Sounds really ugly.Is it the same for Indian Pilots there or are they a privileged lot.

[saperaa]

She loves to use bait and switch on pilots. She will try to dazzle you and then strike when the moment is right, usually right before you go on personal leave and also on paydays

its LCC....give her 20gm peanut + 1 litre pepsi( one bottle of 1 ltr is 25Rs )
loosing as much as 2 months salary. The airline blamed an administrative error on pilots instead of the clown in admin. who was responsible for the paperwork. In 2008 they didn't pay pilot medical insurance even though they offered it on the contract. Many pilots have filed a complaint with both Delhi and Calkutta Embassy offices. They happily write the report but indicate they can do nothing. And the newspaper will not report their injustices either, a small group of Ex-pats tried this. :=

THIS IS TRUE STORY
its happening with all i think.
Indian pilots are also victims of this kind of injustice.
not really injustice we consider it as normal practice bcz .......

but rostering sunita kinda you will find every where every airline,small or big.LCC or premium ,start growing nuts for them.

This is a pure recruit and grind operation. They exploit as many ex-pats as possible and as hard as they can, seemingly

same for indian pilots as well.

Many pilots have filed a complaint with both Delhi and Calkutta Embassy offices. They happily write the report but indicate they can do nothing. And the newspaper will not report their injustices either, a small group of Ex-pats tried this. :=



at least Expats are lucky to file complaint to embassy office.

@apache


Sounds really ugly.Is it the same for Indian Pilots there or are they a privileged lot.


Expats are privileged lot and could file complaint.

but indian pilots didnot.

bcz we knw nothing will happen.

you will hear the horror stories from them. Myself and 3 pilots got the shaft recently, loosing as much as 2 months salary.

you lost only only 2 months salary but indian pilot looses nearly 6 months salary+ licence.
this is not horror story but reality.

[nada1234]

Hi, i have been following this thread with great interest.
The fact is that there is a racket going on there regarding hiring of expat pilots. The fact is that, the chief pilot of indigo is not even qualified on type and since joining has made no attempt to get himself qualified. He is actually a broker - a recruiting agent. Now, if the chief pilot of an airline is a recruiting agent with his own recruitment agency, what can you expect there?
The recruitment racket that is going on is taking indigo management too for a ride. did anyone notice the Ad that indigo came out with regarding pilots. the requirements were so stringent and the salary offered so low that the two did not meet and indigo is left with no pilots who have joined the airline with those experience levels. so, all these guys - vp ops etc now go to (dumb?) management and tell them that there are no pilots in the market, so they have to hire only new expats. when they hire new expats, who gets all the COMMISSION in typical indian style - vp ops and his gang and paid by the chief pilot's agency. So, as you can see there is a nice closed group formed with them making crores out of recruitment commissions and not letting any deserving pilots in.
life in indigo :mad:. All the tall claims made at the time of recruitment have fallen flat. There has been no salary increase so the newly relesed captain and 60+ experienced captain all get the same salary irrespective of the years put in with the company. Why? because the operations mgmt want existing pilots to leave the company so that they can go to company mgmt and tell them that there are no indian pilots available and the only solution is to hire expats and then the racket of chief pilot goes on. Get the picture?
And dont worry about the 2010 deadline regarding expats. Indigo has enough muscle (bribing capability) to easily get that extended. As you will see sooner or later. All the existing and incoming expats have been told not to bother about the deadline, indigo will take care of it.
The gang consists of VP ops (head), Sunita (his sidekick) and blue (recruiting agent). PK is also part of this gang now after he threatened to resign three times and took back his resignation.
Is the indigo management so blind?
Lets face it, INDIGO IS MAKING MONEY. We directly know the load factors flying around and with the cost of fuel being lowest in last few years, they are in profit but they do not want to tell this to us but we know.:sad:

[CaptBMB]

She is been very NICE trying to get me in INDIGO I'm currently Capt in A320 in the US but looking to go overseas..Thanks for the post.

[born1987]

sapree what r u saying indian pilots not getting 6 months salary +licence lost is this possible and expat not getting 2 month salary and no medicals well i just want to ask cant you guys break the contract because in my country if such thing happen we can leave the contract in between and court is on our side.and by going throw posts it seams you all hate management but pls dont spread out the names.

[saperaa]

if such thing happen we can leave the contract in between and court is on our side

court is our side also,but the rule for indian pilots is 6 months notice(DGCA s CAR)
SO WHEN a pilot submits 6 months notice he/she gets nothing and also runs risk of licence expiry at the end of 6 months.....then time to join other airline .

many court cases are still open which started much before 1987 in indian courts.:E

[born1987]

then its really beneficial for you all .if case takes too long then you can leave the company and take good lawyer and lets the case run and company cant take any action on you and i dont think that dgca will interfare too much because one of my friend was in kingfisher and it left company without prior 6 months notice and joined oman air with great salary.

[saperaa]

my friend we are pilots and prefer to fly than sitting home to fight cases.
your country is good do we have jobs in your country?

well your friend could have joined airline in your country as well.
and he /she could have walked away with or without notice.
and .......

[Boeing7xx]

I'd expect the 6mnth rule to be done away with since the situation is not the same as it was 2years ago. The boom's gone and the contracts are being renegotiated across the board, and salary cuts are common. Why would DGCA want to still keep this rule? It surely doesn't seem to serve the interest of any airline, more so, in today's times it would favour anyone who'd signed the contract then. Sometimes you're the dog, sometimes you're the pole... Life goes on.

[born1987]

i am not saying that you leave company and sit at home i just mean if you getting job some where else than take it and let the case run.i really dont know about the 6 month rule *(terms and condition apply)

[saperaa]

Why would DGCA want to still keep this rule? It surely doesn't seem to serve the interest of any airline, more so,

its not DGCA rule, but PRESIDENT OF INDIA"s order
(15+yrs back was issued by top ,when no other airlines existed,
and other airlines came 5 years back are taking advantage of this order and miss using it)

this order was
to stop pilots & ENGG's from LEAVING INDIAN AIRLINES , AIR INDIA & Alliance air.

[Canuck15]

hey sap

where are you getting this info from ......

[born1987]

sapree pls confirm that what u r saying. president cant make rule of aviation and more over this havent came 15+yrs earlier that implimented just 3 years earlier .

[saperaa]

6months notice is law of the land,implimented by DGCA 15+yrs back.
3 -5 years back new airlines started misusing it.

[condorbaaz]

sapera is confusing 2 issues'

1 is a requirement of 1992 for the DGCA (By AIC) to interview Pilots before they can operate different eqpt in another domestic airline.


2. The second is a CAR isued in Aug 2005 requiring Pilots to give 6 months notice before jumping ship.

Even after 6 month notice as per CAR , the AIC interview is required,

[saperaa]

The second is a CAR isued in Aug 2005 requiring Pilots to give 6 months notice before jumping ship.


6 months notice is an Ordinance issued by govt covering not only state run airlines but also other essential services under govt , STOPPING skilled/technically qualified working in various govt services to leave for greens.
when pilots starts leaving govt run airlines eg AI in 1995 or 2004 ,
DGCA implemented it.
i think GDCA staff also will have same problem of 6 months notice period;)

basically 6 mnths should be applicable to only state run companies not the private ones.:ok:

CARs are issued by DGCA from time to time based on Aviation situation and requirments.

[flyingsolo]

When this company initially started, it promised a very rosy future. And we all believed it.

the Indian pilots realised pretty soon that things were not what they seemed and that the expats were the favoured lot. Maybe the expats had a better rapport with the American management.

But now even the expat honeymoon with this company is over. the company has been pretty nasty with some expats, however the expats still have it better than the Indian regarding leave and lot of other contractual terms.

most of the expats are looking for greener pastures. Don't get me wrong, I really get along well with the expats but I really want the expats to move just so that the company realises the importance of their Indian pilots. However, I also know that in these bad days of economic recession, expats need to take whatever comes there way and they will be a part of Indigo for some time.

What you need to ask is , If Indigo is such a great company why has no Indian Captain joined them in the last one years. Forget the oldies and the check pilots who came from IA & KFA.

This is a company which does not respect loyalty and the time you have been in the airline. There have been no pay increases since the beginning, if some experienced pilots come from some other company they will make him/her check pilot/instructor above the long timer. Now that the American management is out, the locals at every stage play with the dignity of the pilots (read a few of the juicy and nasty circulars which come out. First two line :"As per your pilot agreement, para -- sub para --", and then the last two lines "if you don't do this we will shove a boot up your you know which place".) To cut a long story short not a place where you paln to retire from.

So every Indian indigo pilot i know is waiting for the market to improve so that one can move to a better place. The management also knows this.

So you have an unqualified Chief Pilot running all over the world to recruit unsuspecting expats and get them to sign a good sounding contract.

One thing about Indigo contracts. They are totally one sided. You feel you have a good thing going and then slowly and surely you realise that there's more to it which is hidden between the lines. Don't believe me. The Airbus team which negotiated the contract with IndiGo have been all removed from Airbus because Airbus later on realised that they have been had. The indian pilot contract requires the pilot to give six month notice but the management needs to give one month notice, unlike the expat contract which is equal on both sides.

When you are desparate for a job you tend to sign very fast on the dotted line. My advice take a little time and read between the lines because they are going to killl you with your own signature.

A thing about the Indian courts. They tend to favour management over individuals, especially if a government department / government order is involved. The DGCA has been bought over by the Shylocks running the airlines and doesn't care.

In the end, i wish the markets improve and Airlines do better all over the world so that the expats here, get jobs back home and the management shows some respect to the locals. Till then we are all screwed.

And till then let us live like friends and not go mudslinging.

Cheers

[born1987]

really good post flyingsolo i really like it how you described about the contract.and seems to be older indigo pilot.

[nada1234]

Flying Solo, i dont think anyone could have put it any better. U have hit the nail on the head and described situation in the company just as it is - Demoralised and terrorised pilots, pilot unfriendly enviornment, lowest pay in the market, lowest amount of leave, maximum lay overs without any layover allowance etc etc.:{
On top of that, the president keeps writing that they are short of crew and the pilots must sweat more to fill the coffers of the owners more. Pal, how about putting the money where your mouth (read pen) is? How about giving a raise or some sort of incentive? where is the bonus? dont tell us again that you have not met your targets. We know that you have made piles of money in operations. these days the monthly figures come out and you are figuring way up there due to a major contribution from your pilots. Lets see you putting the money down. If you can promote and give bonuses to ground staff, why not the flight crew?
As for the chief pilot less said the better. After all he is a broker and has to take care of HIS company rather than bother about the poor sods who have been sucked into Indigo - indians or expats.
One more inside news. there appears to be a new pilot contract on the horizon - only one word of advise - please DO NOT get sucked into promises of rosy future. The promises are meant to be broken by the indigo management and they have shown it time and again.
One point i would like to make - when the going was bad due to high fuel prices and low pax load - all of us gracefully accepted the cuts. Now, when the tide has turned with fuel being at its lowest value in last three years and ticket prices still high with all the add ons like fuel surcharges, how about reversing those measures?
happy landings

[Boeing7xx]

WOW! The last couple of years have been complete eye openers. Trust me these guys that get trashed around here, are the same guys we'd worship when we started off in IC in the early 90's. They are reliable pilots and excellent teachers. However, I guess it takes more than that to make a good management person. I only hope that all that's being written here is a miscommunication of some sort (hoping against hope). Maybe they should've been left to flying rather than make them deskhogs.

[Sky Dancer]

Well the truth is if ever you are part of the management or you are a training captain , rest assured that you really won't be high on the popularity list , especially when the people under you don't get their way....and then of course there will be the not so successful peers who out of jealousy start various stories....facts of life my friend.:ok:

[leftseatview]

Airlines where management pilots actually fly on line,are more likely to have at least a few "popular" ones.(Doesn't seem to be the case at "i fly--a desk now")
Likewise, training capts who actually have(as against,think they have) and are willing to share their expertise,can be quite popular with new line pilots(and a lot of low experience folks flying nowadays) keen to learn the ropes.
This is what defines an airlines "culture".

[EMB170]

The problem in India and other countries in that part of the world is corruption. it doesn't matter what the rules say, there is always a way round it .

To call this a democracy is obviously an over statement, why otherwise do you need an interview by DGCA if you want to change jobs ?

Please explain, if anybody can defend this policy!

I'm not bitter, as i havn't or ever will work for an indian carrier, but have been flying into and out of india for some time and see what's happening in this country.

Hope situation improves soon, though it is very unlikely! :ugh:

[saperaa]

condorbaaz

DGCA raps Kingfisher airlines for directive misuse - India Business - Business - The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/Kingfisher-rapped-for-directive-misuse/articleshow/4473492.cms)


this is what i was trying to explain 6 months notice is only for state run companies.
private companies missused it.

[flyingsolo]

Anyone know whether Blue got any pilots from wherever he went.

How many KF pilots have joined. What is the contract these pilots have signed.

Hear there is a new contract for Indian pilots in the pipeline. Any News.

Come on chaps, me included, please keep some Indigo forum alive to exchange news.

[air_cowboy]

grapevine says " 6 already joint, 29 joining..."

[heavenbound]

Many KF pilots joining Qatar and Arik Air.

Very distrubed about Indigo- thought they treated their people well. :\

[pilotindia]

Indigo Hasn't treated their pilots well even for a day. Maybe the expats got treated a little better in the begining but they are also feeling the heat now.:)

[pilotindia]

Just wondering if the Indian pilots in Indigo got their bonuses this year...or were they shafted like last year.

[pilotindia]

never mind.. i got my answer.

[flyingsolo]

Sorry to be missing for a long time.

No bonus till now> Indigo makes more money by denying you your bonus than by keeping you happy. We don't want to organise ourselves (so many read pprune, but don't feel like contributing on an anonymous site, do you think they will organise and expose themselves), we want to save fuel for the company by doing decelerated approaches even when the company says do stabilised approaches, we want to be environmentally conscious goody goody green boys and girls. Do you think you deserve a bonus. Even in this time of recession most companies have paid out bonuses and sops and raises, maybe smaller ones than usual so that they can retain people for the time when the markets improve and people have more oppurtunities to jump ship (if you read The Economic Times regularly you would know what I am talking about). But IndiGo knows that we don't deserve a bonus or any thing else.

The reason you don't get a yearly pay hike is that you are not permanent employees of the company but are on contract. However, my contract is open ended, i.e., it does not have to be renewed every few years unlike the expat contract. So doesn't this make me permanent. There have been more so called permanent employees who have left the company than the contractual ones. We all know the turnover on the ground is much faster than for us. Expats and others, correct me if I am wrong, but when you join Emirates, Ethihad or any other airline are you not on contract. Then why do they get a raise every year and not IndiGo pilots. By the way even the expats do not get a yearly raise in IndiGo.

Blue went to SE Asia and got ZERO pilots for Indigo. Rumour is that he is also likely to go.

If Skybus had not closed down we were a whisker from getting a raise. But first Skybus and now Doc Mallya have again screwed us. If Indigo keeps on getting pilots they will do nothing to our pay.

Another thing about loyalty. Indigo does not want it. A loyal employee stays for more time which eventually increases his cost to the company. Do you think that this company, which wants to save money by not putting on taxi lights during daytime, would like to increase its costs by having to pay employees gratuity and bonuses.

I don't know about the new contract being implemented or not. Eleven weeks on, two weeks off (ask the expats how many times they have had to change their leave plans. It might be Ok for the expats. They go back to see thier families, would you like to sit at home with your kids at school and the good wife at work), flying six days a week, no golden offs to plan for your requirements (you know what asking rostering for an off is like, so don't think that you will be able to manage it once the roster is out, and then why should you beg and plead), a pay increase of Rs 25000 but with a catch. You get it in a lumpsum if you stay in the company for 5 years or more after signing the new contract, what about the time you have already spent with the company. Give me the money and let me invest it as I think fit. Doesn't seem too nice and remember Indigo finally always has an upper hand when it comes to contractual issues. I would be very circumspect and cautious and wary.................

I am sure there are people out there who have more experience and information to share, please do take advantage of being on a no names forum.

Just a word of caution. be very careful about flaps 3 landings, especially in these hot and turbulent conditions near the ground. You are about two degrees of separation from a tail strike. So one check and let the aircraft settle down, let it be firm but be safe. Remember, if you are cost to company to Indigo, what happens. There are already bets being taken as to how many days to the first tail strike.

Happy landings till next time.

[pilotindia]

hi flying solo...i am begining to like your posts...consice and hitting the nail on the head..i am pretty well versed with Indigo and know their attitute..don't fret too much cause this too shall pass..market is sure to recover some time or the other...can you tell me a little more about this new contract that they have offered.

Don,t agree with you on flap 3 landings though..I am sure you know that airbus recommends flaps 3 in turbulence/windshaer like conditions.i feel they are equally safe...just takes some getting used to,,,. Most airlines in india flying the same equipment do flap 3 ldgs...Oh..BTW is indigo into single engine taxi yet or not?

[air_cowboy]

:ok: flying solo!


SET in has been on for quite a while now. People have got calls from higher up for not having done a SET at designated airports.

SET out rumored to be arriving soon.

Flap 3 + Reverse idle = Let's burn them brakes!!

[Sky Dancer]

It's a dangerous culture that is being set from what I see.If you begin to pressurise crew into conducting Flap 3 and Reverse Idle landings , there could be a day when even if it is actually required to do a flap full and max reverse landing ,the crew may be reluctant to do it...they might fear being pulled up by the management.This generally leads to a situation wherein the crew stop thinking and just start following what's given to them blindly.I firmly believe that as a PIC , you should have the freedom to deviate from SOPs as and when required and not be pulled up for it.If a PIC does it repeatedly then he is wilfully violating company SOPs.But if it is a one of thing based on circumstance and safety has not been compromised , then the company should respect it.The same goes for deciding the fuel.Certain carriers around the world maintain a passive monitoring of a PICs fuel management through the year.He is only pulled up if his average is high.....hell why are we paid so much...we're there to make decisions in a dynamic environment :ok:

[ninja_turtle]

Any truth to the rumor that Indigo hired some 10 Indian F/O's with ATPL and 3000 Jet Time approx for Direct Entry Command Upgrade ?

No speculation , requesting only first hand info ..

Thank you ..

[scorpilot]

yup thats confirmed news, many of them are from KF...

[condorbaaz]

ninja turtle\\

Because KF is upgrading initial command to atr, all eligible f/o will come to indigo.
Like the f/o from jet will go to spicejet..?

[ramgopal]

hear the new contract coming online fr the indians is similar work with similar on and off cycles as the expats but with indian pay package

[flyingsolo]

An expat in your own country.

Sounds interesting.

But Indigo contract....////!!!!

[Pardes]

Ahh, Miss Sunita. She wouldn't meet with me and my friend in Delhi until I called a senior check airmen in IndiGo to sort her out! Then she was all, "yes sir, yes sir"! From what I hear, IndoGo lacks check airmen and this Sim Center in Miami deal is total BS! Only trust worthy airline I saw in India was GoAir, but they don't have a very big operation.

Don't even bother with India... Complete BS... As for the DGCA, they're always on a tea break when you need them! And the foriegn embassies really don't care for your problems... they know India is corrupt and have bigger things to deal with!

[flyingsolo]

Nice Try:)

[b2much]

Hello folks

Read with lot of interest happenings in Indigo. Got a personal interest.

For all of you intrepid souls.

The management reads PPRuNe. So there are two things you can do.

(1) Go hide or

(2) Use the anonymity of this forums to let vent your angst out and let the management know what you feel.

A word of caution!! Don't ever disclose your identity. You know what the so called PILOT FRIENDLY old man can do.

They are there to screw you. This is the only way you have to fight back.

For the management! Change your ways or else you have an exodus when the situation improves.

Cheers and happy landings

[Boeing7xx]

Heard that a busload of first officers are due for their ATPL endorsement. Almost 40 at last count i heard. Looks like IndiGo is doing something right.

[43ba32ba8d8e1fe47cdc]

So shakti is gone..huh..good for a lot of expats..many of us can now come back...btw any preparation for international ops on? that could mean more fun for some of us:=

[heavenbound]

whats on international flights with Indigo? Are they recruiting? looks like they will have to fly in the region unless they have upgraded orders to WBs?:rolleyes:

[sree]

This is the inside information for all oy you wannabees thinking floodgates have opened with Indigo CAE programme.
The first round of selections was held on 7 Apr and out of 25 candidates only TWO got through the written exam. any guesses who these two are.
No. 1 - a dud guy who just happens to be a nephew of Sunita the snake.
No.2 - son in law of and Ex-FID now with Indigo as TRE.

So any of you wannabees having hopes of getting through CAE selection, you know whom to approach. THE SNAKE OF COURSE as that is the only way apparently to get through this programme.

ALL THE BEST GUYS. :rolleyes:

[Dexter320]

The grim story about Indigo..
Hey Guys, just a note on this backlog since it was brought up here..
The intention is not to discourage but to let the public know of the dirty situation indigo has gotten about 120 type rated pilots into.

i am one of those type rated pilots who got in last year 2011 through the indigo exam and have been waiting for more that 9 months on the ground after type rating and there are about 90 pilots who are after my batch waiting after being type rated.. no exaggeration there as we have an forum on FB.

Basically the problem is that they have taken in more that 485 pilots in the past year inclusive of the KF guys,and whilst all this expansion, indigo being the very business minded LCC that it is has decided to take ppl like you me and everyone alike for a ride as all the investment is on us and they dont share any liabilities.

Indigo is an irresponsible Corporate money making airline which views pilots as numbers and not as people, which is clearly reflected by their callous attitude towards all of us..

they do not keep us informed and we havent heard from these idiots for the past 7 months .. do not reply to emails..do not pick our calls..quite a PATHETIC HR and hiring situation headed by that incumbent Capt.Patrick Singh!!

and to top all that they go ahead and advertise their On TIME policy which clearly is lacking in this case..!

Basically they have a commitment with CAE to send X number of students for a type rating and recieve a kick back from CAE..a commission if you will, so what indigo is doing right now is going ahead and sending hapless souls to get type rated irrespective of there being no demand for pilots whatsoever..as they have nothing to loose as we foot the bill via loans from banks who already have started knocking on our doors asking to pay back the money rightfully so ..

they are actually inducting once every 3 months which explains the HUGE backlog waiting and doing nothing .. ive lost abt 15 months of my life since last year waiting fro this heartless, conscious-less airline which simply doesnt care as to what happens to its pilots.

So ppl writing the exam now will only get into the company post mid 2014..!! yes im serious..2014 as these guys show no inclination of hiring.. all of us are mere Tampons in the Managements eyes , stacked on a shelf to plug a leak in the no of pilots if anyone decides to go out to different airlines opening up, a sort of back up if you will..

All our LOIs have been renewed as they couldnt accomodate the hiring .. a case of pathetic planning and paltry execution..!!

if you do have any other airlines you can get into , please do get in immediately.. get your hours there and then join indigo as then they would favour you .. if not then go join the club of unemployed, type rated, anxious, under informed pilots who have been taken for a ride by the Greedy Corporation headed by Capt.Salim Zaheer (VP flight Ops ) who basically doesnt give a **** as the company sweeling with pride is winning awards after awards.

All that is well and good now as these awards are only an indication of the past and present while Indigo is ruining its future by demoralising willing , responsible able pilots who have been caught in this mess.

i know that the management ppl read PPRuNe, so all id like to say is .. go on Indigo , be proud , be arrogant revelling in your short lived success and build a dark future by treating pilots like objects, do not inform us anything and ignore our calls..when you face the same fate as AI ,KF and the rest , then we'll shall see who's going to ignore calls and just not report to work ..

u know what they say about Pride right..that it goes before DOWNFALL!

[crossbase]

Does anyone have information about new aircraft that were inducted into IndiGo's fleet recently? Someone I know has close acquaintances within IndiGo and was told last week that they have received 3 new aircraft. The same person also said that IndiGo keeps 15 pilots per aircraft (I don't quite understand how that calculation works, but that's what he said), so around 45 of the backlogged people have been taken out of the queue.

Is that true?

[blackknight999]

New aircrafts are coming and old are going back so it turns out to be the same number...!!!and if I am not wrong then 15 would be too high a number for the 320...I think they should be working with maybe 12 or 13...!!!
About the backlog...well it's not clearing but it's just increasing by the day...I have a friend of mine who is 154 in the waiting list ....so u can judge for yourself..!!

[cyrilroy21]

IndiGo is definitely not cutting down on the total number of aircraft in the fleet......

Well atleast not according to publicly available information .

Here is a news article about their 50th aircraft delivery

IndiGo gets delivery of its 50th Airbus A-320 aircraft - Economic Times (http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-02-10/news/31046344_1_indigo-president-aditya-ghosh-new-flights-airbus-aircraft)

Newest aircraft registered is VT-IEZ according to the DGCA database on 23rd of July which was this week :)

That takes the total fleet count to 60 airframes . You can look it up on the DGCA website under the operator name IndiGo ( 4 aircraft registered under this name )
The rest are registered under Interglobe .

IndiGo website shows official fleet count at 57 aircraft . Should be updated soon........

For a low cost carrier 15 Pilots per aircraft seems to be on the higher side ( typical range 10-15 )
If its true that they maintain 15 pilots per airplane then thats good news for the rest of us .

Delivery plan as mentioned above is for 64 aircraft by the end of the year .


Anyone has the roadmap for upgrading existing first officers to captains ?
I believe this should create more vacancies and hence clear the backlog

[3greens 1inthemirror]

well 60 a/c * 15 pilots/aircraft = 900 pilots.

the numbers in the company right now are 800 something.

So are you saying that they are understaffed???

one of my friends got inducted in Feb this year ..and is done with his training and also his supy. For the last two months, he is at home and is waiting for his checks for the right seat. He says it's going to take a very long time.

he also says the average flying per month has come down to 50-55 hours per month, which used to be 70-80 earlier.

i think 15 per a/c is too high a number. i don't see why they would require more than 2+2+2 (for the 3 domestic sorties daily) + additional 2 (as stand by) = 8 or max 10 per a/c

[Dualinput]

5.5 sets (11 pilots) is what is needed for a domestic LCC like IndiGo...with intl ops perhaps a bit more...there was a time when indigo had less than 5 sets...so obviously the airline is overstaffed! As someone rightly mentioned its due to huge bunch of guys joining from KF in a very short time....experience pilots are not easy to find. IndiGo (or for that matter any airline) cannot NOT hire such experienced guys..reality is that there is a whale of a difference between fresh and experienced guys...unfortunately that's the sad truth....

I know a lot of you guys are upset and want to vent your frustration, but you need to hang in there..it's just a matter of time....hit your FCOMs instead...:ok:

IndiGo is the only airline in India that's growing (and making money!).. It's the only airline that has NEVER failed to pay employees on time! the only airline that kept paying bonus as they made profits! they must have done something right...isn't it?? It's not always fate! :=

Airline is volatile Business.. plans change accordingly...in this bargain, I agree indiGo cadets have suffered temporarily...things will change soon!

Cheers,

[sky jet]

Three Greens,

You are slightly low because you need to account for vacations, days off, training and sick days. Also Check Airman are usually not able to fly full lines due to their other duties. Since senior captains get more vacation than junior F/O's and since they are older and tend to use more sick time, airlines often also require a higher captain count than F/O's. The exception being if they use F/O's as international relief pilots then they might carry more first officers.

Jet

[VijayMallya]

Dexter320 has a point but welcome to the real world son...

[Dexter320]

Its just a waiting game Vijay Mallya, heads down ..wait fro your turn ..and then fingers up.. and fly away.

[VijayMallya]

Dear Mods,

Is there really a need for this thread? These boys are gonna hurt themselves more than they realise...

[Dualinput]

Agree completely @ VJM

[Capt Apache]

I think what they are trying to say Dexter is that you should chicken out and just shut up.That's one disgusting advice when you have a bank knocking on your door while they make money....like you mentioned.

[Dexter320]

I definitely think there is a need for this thread .. cause how does the fraternity get to know of the high handedness of this airline..? i mean half the pilots out there still believe in the fluff of ON time Performance and the lot..which isnt true..knowledge is power VIjay Mallya, if not now.. it will come in handy some day ..so yes this thread is required.

[vinayak]

Knowledge is power. True.

You having any knowledge on what you're doing. Not so true.

[flyboy410]

From the looks of this thread, I feel that IndiGo is India's Ryanair in the making...:hmm:

[Dexter320]

Unless you are being served the shaft in the company,what you say isnt very relevant Vinayak.