- June 23, 2023
Two cockpit entry violations in 4 months: AI CMD says ‘not adequately learning from mistakes’ – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Two separate cases of non-crew members being called to the cockpit – within four months – by pilots in violation of rules has clearly upset the Air India (AI) management. Air India managing director and chief executive officer Campbell Wilson on Friday clearly said while one must learn from mistakes, “repeats indicate that we are not adequately doing so whether due to complacency, carelessness or some other factor”.
Non-crew members were invited to the cockpit of an international flight this February and then on a domestic flight earlier this month. In both cases, the DGCA suspended the pilots’ licences for upto a year. In addition, AI was fined for the February violation for not reporting the same to the regulator – something the airline promptly did this month.
In his weekly Friday mail to employees, Wilson said: “… you may have read about the license suspension our regulator handed to two of our colleagues for not adhering to sterile cockpit regulations. The one-year suspension is long but, given that this is the second such incident in a relatively short space of time, it is quite understandable.”
“Our industry operates with a ‘just culture’ mindset that recognises genuine mistakes happen and that they are opportunities from which to learn and improve. But learn and improve we must, and repeats indicate that we are not adequately doing so whether due to complacency, carelessness or some other factor. The rules and regulations exist for a reason, and we expect them to be followed. The strong action taken by DGCA should serve as a reinforcement, not that one should be needed, that it is incumbent on us all to keep elevating our game,” he added.
Non-crew members were invited to the cockpit of an international flight this February and then on a domestic flight earlier this month. In both cases, the DGCA suspended the pilots’ licences for upto a year. In addition, AI was fined for the February violation for not reporting the same to the regulator – something the airline promptly did this month.
In his weekly Friday mail to employees, Wilson said: “… you may have read about the license suspension our regulator handed to two of our colleagues for not adhering to sterile cockpit regulations. The one-year suspension is long but, given that this is the second such incident in a relatively short space of time, it is quite understandable.”
“Our industry operates with a ‘just culture’ mindset that recognises genuine mistakes happen and that they are opportunities from which to learn and improve. But learn and improve we must, and repeats indicate that we are not adequately doing so whether due to complacency, carelessness or some other factor. The rules and regulations exist for a reason, and we expect them to be followed. The strong action taken by DGCA should serve as a reinforcement, not that one should be needed, that it is incumbent on us all to keep elevating our game,” he added.
