New Delhi/Mumbai: Aviation regulator DGCA has approved Air India’s long-pending request to allow the same pilot to operate two types of Boeing wide-body aircraft, according to officials.
Initially, Air India may train a total of eight designated examiners to operate the Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft. A senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said four designated examiners would be trained to operate the 777 and another four to fly the 787.
Cross-utilisation of existing pilots, in which they will be able to fly two different aircraft, will be helpful for the carrier as it embarks on ambitious international expansion plans.
Generally, a designated examiner is an experienced pilot who has been authorized by the regulator to carry out various tests and checks in accordance with civil aviation requirements. The examiner is an employee of the airline concerned.
The official said that under the scheme approved by the DGCA, each of the eight designated examiners should have 150 hours of flight time with at least 10 landings in case of separate operations of Boeing 777 and 787.
Air India’s proposal was approved by the watchdog on March 3.
An Air India official said the airline has received regulatory approval for multi-seat flying (MSF), which roughly means a single pilot can fly two types of aircraft and there will be a rigorous training process for the same. .
The DGCA official said cross utilization of pilots is being followed by airlines in about 16 countries. Currently, Air India has around 700 wide body pilots.
There was no immediate comment from Air India on queries about the DGCA approval.
Air India, which was acquired by the Tata group in January last year, has around 1,825 pilots and is hiring more pilots as the airline expands its operations.
Last month, Air India placed orders with Airbus and Boeing for 470 aircraft, including 70 wide-body aircraft.
Initially, Air India may train a total of eight designated examiners to operate the Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft. A senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said four designated examiners would be trained to operate the 777 and another four to fly the 787.
Cross-utilisation of existing pilots, in which they will be able to fly two different aircraft, will be helpful for the carrier as it embarks on ambitious international expansion plans.
Generally, a designated examiner is an experienced pilot who has been authorized by the regulator to carry out various tests and checks in accordance with civil aviation requirements. The examiner is an employee of the airline concerned.
The official said that under the scheme approved by the DGCA, each of the eight designated examiners should have 150 hours of flight time with at least 10 landings in case of separate operations of Boeing 777 and 787.
Air India’s proposal was approved by the watchdog on March 3.
An Air India official said the airline has received regulatory approval for multi-seat flying (MSF), which roughly means a single pilot can fly two types of aircraft and there will be a rigorous training process for the same. .
The DGCA official said cross utilization of pilots is being followed by airlines in about 16 countries. Currently, Air India has around 700 wide body pilots.
There was no immediate comment from Air India on queries about the DGCA approval.
Air India, which was acquired by the Tata group in January last year, has around 1,825 pilots and is hiring more pilots as the airline expands its operations.
Last month, Air India placed orders with Airbus and Boeing for 470 aircraft, including 70 wide-body aircraft.
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