Vistara to hire pilots from Air India, crisis resolution may delay
PTC News Desk: According to sources familiar with the matter, Vistara's management is taking steps to address its ongoing pilot crisis, but resolving the issue is expected to be a gradual process. It has been revealed that first officers from Air India will be sent to Vistara on deputation. However, this solution may not offer immediate relief.
These first officers are required to undergo mandatory training lasting approximately 40 days, as per regulations set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. This training includes a 21-day ground training involving simulators and line training.
Despite both Vistara and Air India being part of the Tata Group, any pilot exchange can only occur after formal training, the sources clarified.
Additionally, it was noted that Air India is currently operating with a shortage of first officers, leading to most operations being conducted with One-Way Command, where two pilots handle cockpit operations due to the lack of co-pilots. Even if Vistara recruits pilots experienced in flying Airbus A320 from other airlines, their training is anticipated to take a minimum of two months, as per the sources.
In response to the crisis, Vistara recently announced a reduction of 25-30 flights per day to alleviate pressure on its pilots. The airline emphasised improvements in on-time performance following a series of cancellations and delays. However, dissatisfaction among Vistara pilots persists, particularly regarding new contracts with reduced fixed pay components and increased flying-linked incentives in the salary structure.
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"We are carefully scaling back our operations by around 25-30 flights per day, that is roughly 10 per cent of the capacity we were operating," stated a Vistara spokesperson. "This will take us back to the same level of flight operations as at the end of February 2024, and provide the much-needed resilience and buffer in the rosters."
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(Inputs from agencies)
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