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Air India introduces ‘Flexi Contract for Pilots’ to Help Balance Operations
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Air India introduces ‘Flexi Contract for Pilots’ to Help Balance Operations

Air India has devised a “Flexi Contract for Pilots,” a new work model that allows flight crews to select shorter duty patterns while upholding smooth operations. The airline says the plan will match pilots’ preferences with roster needs, focusing on work-life balance without compromising competence. Under the policy, Line Pilots and Line Training Captains on A320, B777 and A350 fleets are eligible. Junior First Officers, Type Rating Instructors and Direct Entry pilots are not. The contract provides two fixed patterns: for wide-body aircraft, 15 days on and 15 days off; for narrow-body aircraft, 20 days on and 10 days off. Annual leave line up with these rosters–eight privilege and four sick leaves for wide-body pilots and 12 privilege plus six sick leaves for narrow-body colleagues. The tenure of the contract will be 12 months, which can be extended at the company’s discretion. After the contract ends, pilots return to their original terms. Air India states that selection is made through an Expression of Interest process, with seniority and operational requirements guiding the final list. An exit needs three months’ notice. If a pilot is selected for a fleet or command upgrade, the pilot returns to the original contract from the start of training; if an upgrade is refused, the prevailing career policy on freezes applies. The company might also revert a pilot to the old contract if required and this does not change the pay terms that applied before switching to flexi terms. Pay follows a calculator shared with crew, with minimum monthly availability set at 12 days for wide-body and 15 days for narrow-body to obtain 40 hours of pay under the new structure. Flying more than 40 hours is paid at the same rate as on the original contract. Trainer, wide-body, deadhead and layover allowances stay protected. Car lease and NPS EMIs are adjusted against flexi salary components. On off-days, pilots remain exclusively engaged with the airline and are not permitted to take on outside work. Leave bidding under the flexi track runs on an ad-hoc system, and previous bids are forfeited. Total bid points throughout the tenure are 20 for wide-body and 30 for narrow-body. Loss of License coverage continues, including on off-days. Medical insurance remains unchanged. Seniority is protected, and base and merit/demerit processes remain as per the current policy. When pilots return to the old contract, they join the next regular leave-bidding cycle. The process runs in two cycles, one beginning in January 2025 and the other in March 2025. Slots are allocated by seniority. As stated in the plan, commanders have 50 A320 slots at Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad, 30 B777 slots at Mumbai and Bengaluru, and 20 A350 slots at Delhi. First officers have 20 A320 slots at Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad, 70 B777 slots at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru and A350 slots to be announced for Delhi. Source: The Print

Admin 18 Nov 2025
The Asia Pacific region will Require 19,560 New Planes over 20 years: Airbus
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The Asia Pacific region will Require 19,560 New Planes over 20 years: Airbus

The APAC will require 19,560 new narrow-body and wide-body planes over the next two decades, mainly driven by demand from India and China, Airbus said. The demand, Airbus said, represents 46% of the global requirement for 42,520 new aircraft over two decades. India and China are powering a major portion of the growth, Airbus Asia Pacific President Anand Stanley said. With increasing passenger traffic, the APAC will experience an annual passenger growth rate of 4.4 per cent, surpassing the global average of 3.6%. India is one of the world's fastest-growing civil aviation markets, and airlines have placed important orders as they expand their fleets to meet the increasing demand for air travel. Presenting the forecast during the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines' Annual Assembly of Presidents in Bangkok, Airbus stated that the region will require around 3,500 wide-body aircraft over the two decades. This number represents 43% of global demand in the larger size aircraft categories. According to the forecast, the APAC region will require approximately 16,100 single-aisle aircraft, accounting for 47% of the new deliveries globally throughout the specified period. “Nearly 68% of the aircraft deliveries will support fleet expansion, while 32% will replace older models, making a substantial contribution to decarbonization efforts. "The next-gen Airbus wide-body aircraft offers an immediate 25% improvement in fuel efficiency and a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions," Airbus said. Stanley said the APAC region is entering an exciting phase of growth. In addition to passenger growth, network development, the penetration of low-cost carriers, and infrastructure are the major drivers of air travel. Source: The Hindu

Saheel Singh 18 Nov 2025
National Aviation Safety Centre To be Established in India; Aircraft Accident Investigations will be Improved
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National Aviation Safety Centre To be Established in India; Aircraft Accident Investigations will be Improved

India is planning to establish a National Aviation Safety Centre to train aircraft accident investigators and aviation professionals. The government of India has announced the establishment of a National Aviation Safety Centre in the country. This centre will train aviation professionals and aircraft accident investigators. This centre will be based on global best practices and will be the first of its kind. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said that the number of professionals working in regulatory and investigative roles in the country is being doubled. This initiative is a long-term vision towards creating a world-class safety infrastructure and human resources. Aircraft safety is a shared responsibility. Sinha was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 13th Asia-Pacific Accident Investigation Group meeting in Delhi. India is hosting this meeting for the first time, with approximately 90 aircraft accident investigation experts participating in the same. During the opening ceremony, participants observed a two-minute silence to honour the 260 people who were killed in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the accident. AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar stated that the lack of trained investigators is a major challenge faced by almost all countries worldwide. India has advanced aerospace and materials testing laboratories that can assist other countries. The meeting will last four days and aims to strengthen the aircraft accident investigation system further. Source: Amar Ujala

Saheel Singh 29 Oct 2025
Pilot Training Centre to Open at MP Airport, Direct Flights to Delhi
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Pilot Training Centre to Open at MP Airport, Direct Flights to Delhi

Along with air services, a pilot training centre will open at the Rewa Airport in Madhya Pradesh. Preparations have begun after getting permission from the Civil Aviation Department. Starlingwings Aviation Company has been entrusted with the accountability for the pilot training centre, which will establish its own station and set up in the airport premises. Training for flying small aircraft will be offered here, with plans to expand to larger aircraft in the future. As stated by the Airport Authority, the initial setup of the training centre might take 1 to 1.5 years, as it will develop hangars, classrooms, technical facilities and other resources. Ample space is presently available on the airport premises and land acquisition will be introduced for future expansion. Rewa-Delhi Air Service Proposed from the 26th Work is also progressing quickly towards expanding air services from Rewa Airport. A direct ATR-72 flight service from Rewa to New Delhi will begin on October 26th. Indore will also be added to this service, offering significant relief to Rewa passengers. Falcon Aviation previously conducted pilot training at the Rewa airstrip. Then, an accident occurred when a plane crashed near a house in the village, killing one person. Several other minor incidents have also occurred. Ongoing Controversy Concerning Falcon Aviation Before the airport in Rewa was constructed, Falcon Aviation conducted pilot training at the airstrip. Falcon Aviation was permitted to provide training for 30 years. During the airport's construction, the company's setup was removed. Falcon Aviation was also asked to conduct pilot training at the Panna airstrip as an alternative. Falcon Aviation objected, stating that the contract was violated. The matter has also reached the court, where both sides have presented their arguments. The Airport Authority states that the opening of a pilot training centre in Rewa will accelerate the expansion of flight services. Services are Expanding - Director, Airport Authority Bhopal Flight services are expanding at Rewa Airport. ATR-72 services will commence soon. Preparations are also ongoing to establish a pilot training academy, for which permission has been sought. This might take some time as the essential resources are developed. Ramji Awasthi, Director, Airport Authority Bhopal. Source : Patrika

Admin 27 Oct 2025
Air India-Airbus Pilot Training Centre inaugurated in Gurugram to Train 5,000 pilots over the Next Decade
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Air India-Airbus Pilot Training Centre inaugurated in Gurugram to Train 5,000 pilots over the Next Decade

More than 5,000 new pilots will be trained during the course of the next 10 years in the advanced pilot training centre at Gurugram, which was inaugurated on Tuesday by Ram Mohan Naidu, Civil Aviation Minister. The advanced facility is a joint venture between Airbus and Air India. Naidu said, “Through this joint venture, ten trailblazing simulators, including India’s first A350 simulators, will be installed with a planned investment of more than Rs 1,000 crore.” Billing it as a milestone for India’s quickly growing aviation ecosystem, the Minister added, “ This landmark facility will guarantee self-reliance in pilot training, advancing PM’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. ” An official release from the airline said the Air India-Airbus training centre will support the growth of commercial aviation in India. “It is intended to train pilots for the Airbus 320 and A350 aircraft and its courses are approved by both the DGCA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.” The 12,000 sqm centre now has two Rull Flight Simulators for the Airbus A320 family aircraft. It will have six A320 simulators and two A350 simulators progressively, the release said. In the words of, JürgenWestermeier, President & Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia, “This is more than a joint venture; it is a strategic investment in the future of the Indian aerospace industry. India is a powerhouse for Airbus, and this hi-tech facility is a testament to our belief in its enormous potential.” Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO, Air India, said: “Air India is expanding with 570 new aircraft on order and the new pilot training centre at our Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, a part of which is being executed with Airbus, will help train pilots who will fuel Air India’s ambition of becoming a top-notch airline. This capacity is a step forward in our transformation journey and in making Air India and the Indian aviation industry more self-sufficient.” The existing Air India Aviation Training Academy, which was opened in 2024, is already the largest aviation training academy in South Asia. It is presently training more than 2,000 aviation professionals.   As per the release, within the next few years, it will train more than 50,000 aviation experts. It features the best equipment for immersive training in Safety and Emergency Procedures (SEP), accompanied by grooming, service training, voice and accent training for cabin crew. Moreover, Air India is also setting up South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation (FTO) at Amravati in Maharashtra, which will graduate 180 commercial pilots annually, it added.

Saheel Singh 06 Oct 2025
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