DGCA acted against 57 pilots for drunken flying

Civil Aviation Minister says that 4 Spicejet,3 Indigo and 3 Kingfisher pilots got the boot.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had taken action against 57 pilots for drunken flying in the past one year,terminating the service of 10 of them,the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

According to the list given by the Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi to the Upper House,of the 10 cock-pit crew whose services were terminated for having been found under intoxication in a pre-flight test,four belonged to Spicejet,and three each were from Indigo and Kingfisher Airlines,respectively.

In other cases,the DGCA either issued warning letters or kept the crew off flying duties for a short period,the written reply said.

Responding to another question on whether it is true that many private companies have not paid their dues to the government yet,Ravi said,”except Kingfisher Airlines and Paramount Airways,other operating private airlines are regularly settling AAI (Airports Authority of India) dues.”

He added that private airlines are mostly paying their dues on time and in case of default in payments,they are charged penal interest,withdrawal of credit facility and are also put on ‘cash and carry’ basis.

To another question regarding allegations against the engineers of AAI on the issue of high price of cement considered in the cost of pavement works pertaining to Lucknow and Varanasi Airports,Ravi said the CBI is investigating the matter.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram