Digital Scoop India Official Platform of Digital Scoop India Featuring Latest & Best News #Articles #Bytes #Entertainment #DigitalScoopMagazine
Related Articles
In an effort to alleviate its pilot shortage crisis, Vistara, a subsidiary of the Tata Group, has announced plans to source first officers from Air India. However, this move may not immediately resolve the ongoing challenges faced by the airline.
According to sources familiar with the matter, first officers from Air India will be deputed to Vistara, but they will need to undergo mandatory training lasting nearly 40 days as per regulations set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. This training includes a 21-day ground training with simulators and line training.
Despite both Vistara and Air India being under the Tata Group umbrella, any pilot exchange between the two airlines can only occur after completing formal training requirements, the sources noted.
Air India is currently grappling with a shortage of first officers, leading to operational challenges where most flights are operated with One-Way Command due to a lack of co-pilots.
Even if Vistara recruits pilots experienced in flying Airbus A320 aircraft from other airlines, their training process is expected to span at least two months.
Vistara recently announced a reduction of 25-30 flights per day to ease pressure on its pilot workforce. The airline emphasized improvements in its on-time performance following a series of cancellations and delays. However, pilots at Vistara, amid its merger discussions with Air India, have expressed dissatisfaction over revised contracts that reduce fixed pay and emphasize flying-linked incentives in their salary structures.
“We are carefully scaling back our operations by around 25-30 flights per day, roughly 10% of our capacity,” stated a Vistara spokesperson. “This adjustment will return us to the flight operations level seen at the end of February 2024, providing the necessary resilience and buffer in our rosters.”
The developments underscore the complex challenges facing Vistara as it navigates pilot shortages and operational adjustments while aiming to maintain service quality amidst industry dynamics and internal restructuring efforts.
Sources By Agencies
