Air India Express, the subsidiary of Air India (AI) still does not have a proper training system in place even after being pulled up for various safety lapses by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on a regular basis.
"AI Express does not have a training set up the way it should actually have, which is a systemic flaw. It has entered into an agreement with AI wherein the national carrier will be providing manpower and other training facilities to it. However, the onus of maintaining the standards of flying operations is still with the CEO of the airline and not with Air India," said a senior official in AI requesting anonymity.
It should be noted that AI has allegedly spent Rs 80 cr on the stipends, hotel accommodations, conveyance and other such expenses of the 150 pilots belonging to AI Express as they were grounded due to lack of training between September 2010 and September 2011.
In the same year, AI constituted a training committee for the training of pilots particularly of its subsidiary Air India Express. In India training facilities were in bad semblance, so quotations were invited from world over. Following many vendors quotations, the training contract was awarded to Miami based PAN-AM Academy at $38,000. However, the contract was revoked soon by Arvind Jhadav, ex-CMD of AI, and given to a second vendor, Lufthansa Flight Center at almost double the cost at $67,000.
It is important to note that Air India is yet to implement carrier pattern after the merger. The training reportedly and allegedly is in such bad shape that AI has to suspend its general manager (Training) for irregularities in records and later the general manager (Operations) for negligence in arranging pilots.
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