Air India in Hot Water Over Rostering Errors: DGCA Takes Action

DGCA Demands Explanation

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show cause notice to Air India for a mistake that occurred during a Mumbai-Riyadh flight. A trainee pilot operated the flight with a captain who was not qualified to be a trainer for the trainee’s supervised line flying.

The trainee pilot was scheduled to fly the Mumbai-Riyadh route with a training captain on July 9, 2024. However, the training captain became ill and was replaced with a regular captain. This replacement was not suitable for the trainee's supervised line flying. A senior official stated, "A show cause notice has been issued to AI on this issue."

Sources mentioned that during the flight, both pilots realized the mix-up due to an oversight by the crew management system (CMS). The crew voluntarily reported the incident to the base manager, and the airline later reported it to the regulator.

After derostering (removing the pilots from flying duties) them previously in anticipation of an investigation, the DGCA has now sent AI a show-cause notice.

According to a senior DGCA official, the two pilots had been removed from flying duty or off-rostered. The agency is reportedly investigating whose negligence caused this confusion. Some AI officials have reportedly been summoned to the regulator's office to address responsibility. AI sources acknowledge that this error resulted from several mistakes. According to sources, the lapse was voluntarily disclosed to the DGCA as soon as it was discovered.