M A I N   N E W S

A-I charge-sheets 12 pilots
Process under way to declare stir illegal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 28
Even as the full-fledged contingency plan activated by Air-India is expected to stabilise the national carrier’s flight schedule in the next 24 hours, Air-India today reportedly chargesheeted 12 pilots, who were suspended two days ago, for their refusal to operate and `abandoning’ flights at various destinations.

Reports here said that the charge sheets were being issued to the pilots, who were suspended on April 26. An officer is also being appointed to initiate inquiry proceedings.

The pilots had been suspended under Clause 21 (i) (A) of the certified standing orders of the company, the sources said, adding that they would be given 48 hours to reply to the charge sheets.

A total of 27 pilots have been suspended during the past two days for refusing to operate flights even as the airline is contemplating disciplinary action against 30 others, the sources said.

A doctor examines Defence Minister George Fernandes on his arrival from China, which is affected by SARS, at IGI Airport on Sunday night. — PTI photo

The airline has also put in place the contingency plan under which all Boeing 747 flights would be operated to Europe and the USA, while only 50 per cent of the Airbus A310 services would be curtailed, leading to flight cancellations, especially to the Gulf region.

The cancellation of the flights had been done by ensuring minimum inconvenience to passengers so that they could be transferred to Indian Airlines and to other foreign carriers, an airline official said.

Air-India has cancelled its Dubai flight out of Delhi for today and Wednesday and passengers have been booked on a special IA flight.

Tuesday’s Muscat service has also been cancelled, the official added.

The government had on Saturday evening placed under suspension 12 Air-India pilots after the Indian Pilots Guild refused to withdraw its directive on operating flights to SARS-affected countries.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain told the Lok Sabha that despite pilots refusing to fly the aircraft, the Air-India schedule had not been affected. Members were of the view that penal action should be taken against the agitating pilots.

He said the government had initiated a process of consultation with the Labour Ministry for declaring the ‘strike’ illegal and taking necessary action against the IPG members.

Barring certain flights to South-East Asia, Air-India had not cancelled its schedule, Mr Hussain told the House when members raised the issue during zero hour. Passengers need not panic of being stranded in airports, the minister said, adding that no flight was being cancelled due to the strike.

ACQUISITION OF PLANES
No pressure on govt: Shahnawaz
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 28
The Centre today denied reports that the government was under any kind of pressure for selection and acquisition of aircraft for Indian Airlines (IA) and Air-India (AI) while stating that a proposal sent by the domestic air carrier was currently under the consideration of the government.

No such proposal has so far been sent by the A-I.

Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain told the Lok Sabha that Indian Airlines had placed before the government a project report during April last year for acquiring 43 aircraft comprising A-319s, A-320s and A -321s from Airbus.

The cost of acquisition had been projected at Rs 10,089 crore, he said.

He said funds for acquiring the aircraft would be raised by borrowing both in the international and domestic markets.

Mr Hussain denied that there was any proposal of Indian Airlines and Air-India to purchase any small aircraft even though the former had already acquired small planes for operations in the north-eastern part of the country, with financial assistance from the North Eastern Council (NEC).

To another question, the minister said the government was reviewing the list of prohibited items for air travel.

“On aviation security, we go by the standards and guidelines laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which has prohibited the carriage of 84 items. We are reviewing the list and might prune it”, he said.

Regarding airport security, Mr Hussain said security had been strengthened at all 68 operational airports in the country. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had decided to hand over the security of airports to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).