Air India pilots say no to pre-flight COVID-19 tests during offs and rest period

30 December,2020 04:48 PM IST |  Mumbai  |  IANS

If we find any pilot irrespective of grade/designation being coerced to violate Air India FDTL Scheme, we will be forced to seek recourse as well as lodge a formal complaint with the concerned agencies, they said.

Picture used for representational purpose only


The Air India pilots' associations have asked their members "not to accept any duty during weekly offs and rest period" including undertaking pre-flight Covid tests.

Indian Pilots Guild and Indian Commercial Pilots' Association, in a letter to Capt. R. S. Sandhu, Director (Operations), Air India said, "It has been brought to our notice that pilots are frequently being planned for COVID tests during their weekly offs or post-flight rest periods. As you are aware, any task that flight crew members are required by the operator to perform... is clearly defined as Duty in the DGCA FDTL CAR and the current Air India Flight Crew FDTL Scheme. This practice therefore represents a flagrant violation and must be discontinued immediately".

"We hereby request you to inform the concerned departments to strictly abide by the Air India FDTL Scheme and not infringe upon 'uninterrupted rest.' We are accordingly directing our members to ensure strict compliance, i.e "Not to accept any duty during weekly offs & rest period". This includes preflight Covid Testing", they said in the letter.

Pilots have warned they will take recourse if any pilot is coerced. "If we find any pilot irrespective of grade/designation being coerced to violate Air India FDTL Scheme, we will be forced to seek recourse as well as lodge a formal complaint with the concerned agencies", they said.

Keep scrolling to read more news

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
air india Coronavirus new delhi national news
Related Stories