AI cabin crew still stuck in air pocket

Some flights on domestic routes continue to operate with less staff

For Air India, it seems those who travel on domestic circuit are 'less important' than the fliers on the international routes.



Following MiD DAY report that the national carrier was operating a number flights on both international and domestic routes with less crew members, the airline withdrew its December 31, 2010 order in which the crew strength had been reduced for international flights. However, on domestic sector, the airline is maintaining the status quo and the Airbus 321flights are being operated with less crew members, sources said. Airbus 321 is mostly used for operation on Delhi- Mumbai, Delhi-Kolkata and Delhi- Bangalore routes.

Interestingly, this has happened even after the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had asked the airline that no emergency exit in an aircraft be left unattended and flights be operated with enough cabin crew to man each door. The DGCA in its memo last week had stated that the minimum cabin crew must be deployed as per the each and every Emergency Floor Level Exits because with lesser cabin crew any small emergency can turn into a major disaster.

With Air India paying no heed to DGCA order, sources told MiD DAY that Air India Cabin Crew leaders are going to meet DGCA sometime next week. "We had sought an appointmentu00a0 with DGCA officials on January27. However, we could not meet them as they were busy. Now, a meeting is expected to take place next week," said a senior crew member.

In December, the airline had taken permission from the DGCA to allow it to fly its Boeing 747 aircraft with only 7 crew members and Airbus 321 aircraft with only four crew members as it was facing shortage of staff.u00a0 While the former needs at least 12 crew members, the latter has to have a minimum of seven crew members on board every flight as per DGCA rules.

As per rules for 0 to 49 passengers, 1 cabin crew member is required and for Airbus 321 with 20 Executive class and 152 Economy class seats , at least five crew members have to be there. "If going by another rule that all floor exits should be manned by a crew member, then the aircraft has eight floor exits and it should have eight more crew members on board," said, the official.u00a0 The less number of cabin crew can jeopardize the flight safety, especially in case of technical and medical emergencies, added the official.u00a0

"We are governed by rules of Directorate General of Civil Aviation. All decisions are taken with approval of competent authority," the Air India spokesperson said.