Windfall for 800 pilots as AI agrees to fixed allowance,even if they fly less

Not just that,pilots will get a fixed monthly foreign allowance if they fly to international destinations — $1500 in case of a commander and $1000 for a co-pilot. The earlier rule gave $75 a day which meant that even if a pilot “lay over” an international station for six days a month,the bill would not go beyond $450.

The government,when it got involved in bailing out loss-making Air India,wanted a common system for the merged airline and that is how the Justice Dharmadhikari committee was established to resolve pay-parity issues. Indications were that the fixed flying allowance of Air India would be replaced by the IA system, which was to pay as per the number of flying hours.

The reverse happened. The matter will now be put up before the board and the Dharmadhikari panel for ratification.

The provisions in the agreement,however,are bound to raise questions on appropriate use of public money. For instance,under the agreement,for every hour beyond the minimum 72-hour mark,a pilot will be paid one-and-half times the hourly rate. And beyond 85 hours,the pilot will get twice the entitled hourly rate.

The irony is that an IA pilot cannot fly more than 90 hours a month according to an earlier agreement with the management. This is lower than the 125 hours FDTL permitted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.