<p> <br />Speaking to Deccan Herald here, head of the Inquiry Air Marshal (retd) B N Gokhale said the panel was in the last leg of public hearing and was preparing a comprehensive report. <br /><br />“Report will give more thrust to flight safety. It will also touch other crucial subjects, including company and employee’s relations, stress-related issues, providing better working conditions, filling of vacant posts in key sections, rest hours to pilots and crew members, training, communication problems and installation of advanced technology in airports,” the CoI chairman said. <br /><br />The COI was supposed to submit its report by August end but it sought extension of one month as it did not receive certain documents, including toxicology report of Captain Z Glusica, commander of the ill-fated aircraft, he said. <br /><br />Gokhale also said he and Deepak Gaur, an assessor of the COI, flew from Mangalore to Dubai and back on an Air India Express to understand the flight duty time limitations and complications faced by the crew. He said they travelled by sitting in the cockpit with the permission of the higher authorities. <br /><br />In Dubai, various authorities, including the Air India staff, officials of Dubai airport, air traffic control staff and agency, made their deposition before the COI. <br /><br />The six-member COI on Monday began its hearing in Delhi where senior officials of Air India, Air India Express, Airport Authority of India, Director General of Civil Aviation and others deposed. The hearing will conclude on Thursday. <br /><br />All of Captain Ahulwalia’s seniors and friends, who were called to the witness box to depose, described him as an extremely disciplined and competent pilot. Capt Glusica was also remembered as a highly experienced pilot by his peers. <br /><br />One officer who handles training of pilots, pointed out at the poor English language skill of Glusica, though he was an excellent professional in flying. He also said most of the foreign pilots from Russia or Serbia, working for Air India Express, have been facing language problems. However, many of Glusica’s colleagues deposed that they had not found anything wrong in his language skill or understanding the standard of operation set by Air India Express.</p>
<p> <br />Speaking to Deccan Herald here, head of the Inquiry Air Marshal (retd) B N Gokhale said the panel was in the last leg of public hearing and was preparing a comprehensive report. <br /><br />“Report will give more thrust to flight safety. It will also touch other crucial subjects, including company and employee’s relations, stress-related issues, providing better working conditions, filling of vacant posts in key sections, rest hours to pilots and crew members, training, communication problems and installation of advanced technology in airports,” the CoI chairman said. <br /><br />The COI was supposed to submit its report by August end but it sought extension of one month as it did not receive certain documents, including toxicology report of Captain Z Glusica, commander of the ill-fated aircraft, he said. <br /><br />Gokhale also said he and Deepak Gaur, an assessor of the COI, flew from Mangalore to Dubai and back on an Air India Express to understand the flight duty time limitations and complications faced by the crew. He said they travelled by sitting in the cockpit with the permission of the higher authorities. <br /><br />In Dubai, various authorities, including the Air India staff, officials of Dubai airport, air traffic control staff and agency, made their deposition before the COI. <br /><br />The six-member COI on Monday began its hearing in Delhi where senior officials of Air India, Air India Express, Airport Authority of India, Director General of Civil Aviation and others deposed. The hearing will conclude on Thursday. <br /><br />All of Captain Ahulwalia’s seniors and friends, who were called to the witness box to depose, described him as an extremely disciplined and competent pilot. Capt Glusica was also remembered as a highly experienced pilot by his peers. <br /><br />One officer who handles training of pilots, pointed out at the poor English language skill of Glusica, though he was an excellent professional in flying. He also said most of the foreign pilots from Russia or Serbia, working for Air India Express, have been facing language problems. However, many of Glusica’s colleagues deposed that they had not found anything wrong in his language skill or understanding the standard of operation set by Air India Express.</p>
