The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has recommended to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to refrain from rostering of pilots beyond normal Flying Duty Time Line (FDTL) and especially during sunrise and sunset to avoid recurrence of air accidents.

In addition, the chamber has also suggested that state-created training infrastructure and facilities for pilots should be permitted to be pooled in with other operators in the private domain irrespective of their size. This has become necessary as training facilities for pilots exist with a few bigger airlines and are denied to their counterparts. As a result, the pilots are requisitioned and hired at exorbitantly higher commercial considerations from overseas airlines to bridge the demand-supply gap for air-traffic movement. However, this suggestion should be executed purely on commercial considerations.

In a statement ASSOCHAM Secretary General, Mr. D.S. Rawat pointed out that majority of air accidents occur due to human error and the ideal way out to avert possible and unforeseen air traffic casualties could be brought to an end on roistering of pilots beyond sunset and sunrise so as to help them shed away their fatigue and take on their subsequent assignments afresh to ensure safety and efficiency as well as smooth air-traffic movement, besides, take off and landing.

Mr. Rawat pointed out that of late the issue of pilot fatigue on account of their sudden and unexpected rostering beyond FDTL and sunset & sunrise has brought national carrier unprecedented criticism and even caused it hurt and embarrassment and  thereby, putting its credibility in the dumps.

This according to ASSOCHAM needs to be urgently reviewed to send positive signals to air-traffic takers so as to assure them of their safety and smooth flight movement, said Mr. Rawat.

The chamber has also raised the issue of inquiries that go into finding causes for air accidents saying that such inquiries should be conducted in a fair, transparent and impartial manner by an independent agency, outside administrative control of Civil Aviation Ministry.

The ASSOCHAM is of the view that just in case of railway accident and incidents, an independent enquiry is supervised and maintained by Railways Safety Commission which doesn’t fall under jurisdiction of Railway Ministry but is within the administrative management of Ministry of Civil Aviation. This ensures fair and independent enquiry.

Similarly, in case of air casualties, causes for such mishaps are enquired by Director General of Civil Aviation which in view of ASSOCHAM invites wide-spread criticism for the regulator. Air-traffic casualties should therefore be investigated on lines of Railway Safety Commission, so that allegations of partial investigations are set side or else put on rest.

The ASSOCHAM has also brought to the fore that whenever air casualties happen, effective and proper co-ordination is always missing amongst 5 key stakeholders, namely DGCA operators, Air Traffic Controller, Air Force or Coast Guards, besides, public and district administration for launching timely and safe rescue relief. National Disaster Authority having its resources spread all over the country can be roped in to render valuable support. In the absence of, proper co-ordination the relief measures are delayed as agencies like search and rescue teams, medical/ambulance at site and police protection etc. do not immediately swing into action for want of instructions. This subjects the national carrier to utter criticism and public out-cry, putting a question mark to its credibility.

The ASSOCHAM has therefore, demanded that immediate steps should be taken to ensure proper and timely co-ordination amongst aforesaid 5 agencies so that necessary action is taken for rewarding immediate relief and rescue measures to safeguard human lives and national carrier’s property as operators at such crucial junctures are helpless and do not have requisite infrastructure to move and extend rescue operations.

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