<p>The state-run carrier had recently cancelled/withdrawn 12 flights from its domestic and international routes, supposedly due to shortage of cabin crew. The suspension of these flights is effective between June 11 and July 14, but behind it is a story beset with charges of irregularities in the selection of the cabin crew, alleged discrepancies in the crew roster system and favouritism.<br /><br />The issue began in December 2008, when about 500 people were selected as cabin crew and shortlist regarding this brought out in January 2009. But by then, global recession had struck, plunging the aviation sector into a crisis. Yet some employees cried foul and complained to the management that there were irregularities in the selection. The process was put on hold after the allegations reached Arvind Jadhav, a Karnataka cadre-IAS officer, who had just then taken over as the airline’s chairman and managing director.<br /><br />The demand for more cabin crew was also one of the demands of the indefinite strike called by the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU), the largest workers’ group of Air India, in May this year. But the strike led to the AI management derecognising the ACEU and another AI union. A fortnight later, the CMD scrapped the January 2009 shortlist of the selected crew.<br /><br />According to sources in the management, there is really no shortage of crew, and the crux of the problem is the alleged discrepancies in the roster system. As per the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) guidelines of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, cabin crew should not fly more than 1,000 flying hours a year and not more than 125 hours a month. Crew jostle with each other to reach this mark. The DGCA guideline also says there should be one cabin crew per 49 passengers. ‘IC’ has a cabin crew strength of 80:20 female to male ratio and operates 250 flights a day.<br /><br />Inequitable distribution<br /><br />But there is inequitable distribution and favouritism in the allotment of flight slots, in which senior crew gets to keep for themselves all international flights, which gives them not only more flying hours but also attractive incentives. The juniors are left to look after domestic flights. “This has been going on for years, giving rise to manipulation of the roster the system and reports that there is a shortage of cabin crew when actually there is none,” said an official.<br /><br />The AI management has, therefore, begun restructuring the roster system. And with no employees union around, they feel they now have an opportunity to “set things right”. “This may also help us save Rs 30 crore,” the official added.<br /><br />However, the ACEU is puzzled by the management’s stand. “If the management held such a view of the roster system and the selection process, why was no action taken against the guilty?” asked LJ B Kadian, ACEU general secretary. <br /></p>
<p>The state-run carrier had recently cancelled/withdrawn 12 flights from its domestic and international routes, supposedly due to shortage of cabin crew. The suspension of these flights is effective between June 11 and July 14, but behind it is a story beset with charges of irregularities in the selection of the cabin crew, alleged discrepancies in the crew roster system and favouritism.<br /><br />The issue began in December 2008, when about 500 people were selected as cabin crew and shortlist regarding this brought out in January 2009. But by then, global recession had struck, plunging the aviation sector into a crisis. Yet some employees cried foul and complained to the management that there were irregularities in the selection. The process was put on hold after the allegations reached Arvind Jadhav, a Karnataka cadre-IAS officer, who had just then taken over as the airline’s chairman and managing director.<br /><br />The demand for more cabin crew was also one of the demands of the indefinite strike called by the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU), the largest workers’ group of Air India, in May this year. But the strike led to the AI management derecognising the ACEU and another AI union. A fortnight later, the CMD scrapped the January 2009 shortlist of the selected crew.<br /><br />According to sources in the management, there is really no shortage of crew, and the crux of the problem is the alleged discrepancies in the roster system. As per the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) guidelines of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, cabin crew should not fly more than 1,000 flying hours a year and not more than 125 hours a month. Crew jostle with each other to reach this mark. The DGCA guideline also says there should be one cabin crew per 49 passengers. ‘IC’ has a cabin crew strength of 80:20 female to male ratio and operates 250 flights a day.<br /><br />Inequitable distribution<br /><br />But there is inequitable distribution and favouritism in the allotment of flight slots, in which senior crew gets to keep for themselves all international flights, which gives them not only more flying hours but also attractive incentives. The juniors are left to look after domestic flights. “This has been going on for years, giving rise to manipulation of the roster the system and reports that there is a shortage of cabin crew when actually there is none,” said an official.<br /><br />The AI management has, therefore, begun restructuring the roster system. And with no employees union around, they feel they now have an opportunity to “set things right”. “This may also help us save Rs 30 crore,” the official added.<br /><br />However, the ACEU is puzzled by the management’s stand. “If the management held such a view of the roster system and the selection process, why was no action taken against the guilty?” asked LJ B Kadian, ACEU general secretary. <br /></p>
