AirplaneTIA NEWS

Acting on aviation regulator DGCA’s orders, Air India has taken off flying duties its operations department head for skipping the mandatory pre-flight medical test. Air India said that the orders to remove Air India Executive Director (Operations) Capt A K Kathpalia from flying duties were issued by the DGCA flight safety department and Capt Kathpalia will not be assigned any flight to operate any more.

The airline had set up a five-member committee to investigate the allegations, besides reporting the matter to the aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The probe was necessitated after the airline’s pilots union ICPA brought it to the notice of the management.

The complaint was received from the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) that a senior executive pilot had evaded pre-flight medical test in the last 25 days at Delhi airport. Rule 24 of Aircraft Rules prohibits crew members from taking any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight and it is mandatory for him or her to undergo an alcohol test both before and after operating a flight.