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

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. 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.

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]

inside dope

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 . 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.

[CaptBMB]

I was just contacted by Sunita

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.

[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]

what

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.

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

[flyingsolo]

No Names

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]

Some names

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