Height of stress

DGCA drafts guidelines to combat fatigue among cabin crew

With stress and fatigue among the cabin crew increasing in recent times, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has drafted a new set of Civil Aviation Requirements on Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL).

This covers both aircraft as well as helicopter cabin crew.

According to the draft guidelines, operators have to establish FDTL and a rest scheme for their cabin crew in accordance with the Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) and incorporate them in their operation manuals.

A copy of the CARs has been circulated to all stakeholders by the DGCA, soliciting their views and suggestions.

Operators will now have to ensure that all flights are completed within the allowable flight and duty period, taking into account the time necessary for pre-flight duties and taxiing and turn-around time in case of multi-sector flights.

Environmental conditions such as winds and anticipated delays due to traffic congestions at airports too would have to be factored in while planning flight schedules, the DGCA guidelines said.

The draft CARs suggest using the actual flight time for calculating the FDTL.

FTDL has been defined as the total time from reporting at the airport for the purpose of operating a flight and ending a minimum 30-minutes after termination of a flight or a series of flights.

The flight time, according to the draft, would be the total time from the moment an aircraft moves for take-off to the moment it comes to rest at the end of the flight. However, for helicopters, the flight time would commence from the time of ‘switching on' to ‘switching off' the engine, the guidelines said.

The guidelines stipulate that while operating on domestic routes and in neighbouring countries in any 24 consecutive hours, flight duty time would not exceed more than 11 hours with six landings and 12 hours with five landings.

Similarly, it has also come out with guidelines for international operations. The draft proposal also stipulates new regulations for the minimum rest period required by the cabin crew.

According to the proposed guidelines, when crew is rostered for a single flight duty period of 13 hours or more, rest period prior to operating such flights would include a local night.

However, for the ultra-long range operations, the maximum flight duty time would be 21 hours in any consecutive 24 hours with one landing.

The minimum rest in case of ultra long range, would be 48 hours, inclusive of at least two local consecutive nights when the trip is less than nine days, and 72 hours when the the trip is longer than nine days. — PTI

CARs in take-off trouble
Aviation staff raises objections

The All India Cabin Crew Association (AICCA) has said it is opposed to the draft guidelines on flight duty time limitation (FDTL) and would soon file its objections with the appropriate authorities.

The guidelines, called CARs, were proposed by the DGCA recently.

"We believe that the draft CARs are neither in the interests of passengers nor the cabin crew. We are studying the draft and will soon file our objections with the DGCA," AICCA General Secretary, Sanjay Lazar, said in Mumbai on Monday.

Lazar said the draft does not take into account passengers' safety or crew fatigue.

"The proposed flight duty time limitation will not only lead to further fatigue amongst cabin crew but also jeopardise passenger safety," he said.

"We are totally opposed to the draft on these very grounds," he added.

There are some 6,500 cabin crew across all operators, including foreign operators. National carrier Air India has a total cabin crew strength of 4,000.

The draft CARs lay down the flight duty time limitation hours and number of rest hours for the cabin crew so that they are not fatigued when attending to passengers on board.

The proposed CARs, which have been circulated to all stakeholders, would come into effect from July this year, if they are approved. — PTI

Career Hotline
Brain child
Pervin Malhotra

Q. I am doing BSc IT, but I am very interested in how the brain functions. Is there any way I can get into this field at this point?

— Harsh Bagai

A. Yes believe it or not, there is. The National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Gurgaon (Har) (www.nbrc.ac.in), a Deemed University (Autonomous Institute of d/o Biotechnology, M/o Science & Technology, GoI) offers a Summer Training Programme which is open to students who are currently in the penultimate year of their degree programme (i.e. 2nd year of a 3-year B. Sc or 1st year of a 2-year MSc). The programme is open to students of all branches of Biology / Maths / Physics / Chemistry / Psychology / Engineering / Computer Science and Medical Sciences or equivalent.

The 2-month programme is conducted between the months of May- August. The exact starting date is flexible depending on candidate’s convenience but can’t be later than June 15.

If selected, you will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs. 1000 and will be provided free accommodation. You only have to bear the cost of travel, meals and other expenses, though.

You need to send in your application along with your CV giving details of your education from class 10 onwards. In addition, you must submit a small project proposal of not exceeding 1000 words identifying a research problem, and describe how it can be tackled experimentally. Your research proposal could be in the areas of active research at NBRC (see the website www.nbrc.ac.in) or outside but related to neuroscience. Selection is based on the candidate’s academic career, level of interest and the project proposal that will be evaluated for originality and feasibility.

NBRC also offers PhD (Neuroscience) & Integrated PHD (Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience, Systems Neuroscience, Computational Neuroscience). You can check out the details on their website.

BITS & BYTES
JC CAT on June 8

Perfect Publications Pvt. Ltd, publishers of Just Careers, a magazine for MBA aspirants, has announced the launch of JC CAT (Just Careers Common Admission Test), an All-India Entrance Examination for MBA and PGDBM.

It conducted the test on April 13 and the first one on February 4, 2008. The next JC CAT is slated for June 8.

JC CAT is the admission test for the new age manager. Says Rameena Chhuneja, assistant general manager, JC CAT, "We are confident with time, more and more B-schools will accept the JC CAT scores which will further motivate more and more students to take the exam."

One important USP of JC CAT is the scholarships that it offers the top three position holders. The top position holder gets 100 per cent scholarship on tuitions fee plus free boarding and lodging, whereas the second position holder gets 100% scholarship on tuition fee, the third position holder will be given 50 per cent scholarship on tuition fee. — TNS

Smart Skills
The News makers
Usha Albuquerque

Many students want to get into a career in mass communications without quite understanding what this field is, and the careers possible in mass communication, or the media. ‘Mass communication’ is a broad term, generally meaning communicating with the masses, and encompasses the different modes by which messages and information are spread to large numbers of people. It broadly covers four major areas of work - print journalism, radio and TV, advertising, and public relations, and new media, or the worldwide web.

Journalism

Journalism informs, analyses and shapes opinions through the print and broadcast media. Print includes newspapers, magazines, tabloids, periodicals and so on, while broadcast media is what is transmitted through radio, TV and the Internet. Journalism is concerned with the gathering, processing and presentation of news in the form we finally receive it. Jobs in journalism could include researching of a story, reporting, or coverage of any kind of story, editing, or putting the story/ies together, and such assignments. Web site publishing is another area which holds out much promise as more and more publications and organizations have set up their own websites, and require communication to be conducted through cyber space.

You can do a BA in journalism offered by almost all universities, after plus two with any subject stream, or a BA in mass communication with a specialisation in journalism and directly join a publication or news channel. Most candidates seeking this career prefer to get a broad-based education in social sciences - political science, sociology, economics, or even English before taking up a professional programme - a PG diploma or degree in journalism or mass communications with a specialisation in journalism. A knowledge of typing, and computer literacy is essential today, as most editing and subbing is done on computer. Knowledge of an additional language is also useful.

Journalists are at the very centre of the hub of information and, therefore, there can be a heady sense of excitement for most newcomers. There is also great responsibility placed on journalists, the power of the pen can make or break people, and events. But they also work under great pressure to meet deadlines, and have to deal with long and irregular hours, and a salary package that may not ever match that of business management.

Radio & TV

Of all communications, the media today---radio and television — are together the most powerful. In a fraction of a second, their transmissions can reach millions of people over a wide geographic area. What is more, their messages are received directly in the home. The main function of radio and television broadcasting is to entertain, inform or educate. Jobs in this field broadly involves planning, producing and airing programmes of popular interest. There are many who are fascinated by presenters on TV, and want to join this field. But jobs in radio and TV are not only those we see in front of a TV camera, or the voice on radio, but also includes production, conceptualizing and putting together a story, directing, camerawork, sound recording, lighting, scripting, editing of the story or news feature, presentation and so on. Other areas of work can be Programming- planning, selecting and acquiring shows, Commissioning - assigning work to different producers, set design, make-up etc.

Training Talk Journalism The Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, and its branches The Times School of Journalism , New Delhi , Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Xavier’s Institute of Communication, Mumbai. Radio & TV Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. Dr. A.J. Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC), Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. Xavier’s Institute of Communication, Mumbai. Asian School of Journalism, Chennai Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai. Sophia's Institute of Mass Comminication, Mumbai. (For Women) Satyajit Ray Film and TV Institute, Calcutta, The Asian Film and Television Academy, Noida Advertising and PR Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad. (MICA) Indian Institute of Mass Communications (IIMC), JNU campus, New Delhi. Rajendra Prasad Institute of Communication and Management, Mumbai. Bhavan’s College of Communication and Management, Mumbai. Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi, and other cities. National Institute of Advertising (NIA), Sainik farms, New Delhi Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai. Symbiosis Institute of Journalism and Communication, Pune, Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai

Entry into a career in radio and television broadcasting can be at different levels. You can become a producer or director after graduation in any discipline, or special training in film and TV. There are also diploma courses of 1-2 years after plus two for training in video editing, sound recording and editing and other specialisations. Technical posts demand appropriate skills and qualifications and can be taken up through vocational/ technical training, or PG diploma after graduation. A BA in mass communication with specialization in radio or TV can also lead of such jobs. Many also pick up jobs through internships gaining hands-on experience. Formal training in this area could, however, help to discipline and sharpen inherent skills and thus prove beneficial in the long run. Announcers and newsreaders are selected through auditions. If you have creative instincts as well as managerial and administrative abilities, ability to bring out talent in others, communication skills, liking for teamwork, stamina and a willingness to work odd hours, then TV and film could prove to be your dream job.

Advertising

Advertising is used to persuade people to buy a particular product or service, to create a positive image of a company or organisation and to inform people or create awareness on issues of public interest and concern. Jobs in advertising can be in the creative department and Client Servicing. If you are interested in a career in advertising you can take up graduation in mass communication and specialise in advertising, or complete graduation in any subject and then a PG diploma in mass communication, or in advertising, or communication management. Some students get into visualising for advertising by doing a course in art or graphic design, while others do an MBA and apply for jobs in client servicing and media planning.

Public Relations

In an age when image consciousness holds the key to success, the scope and influence of public relations is constantly widening. PR, as this career is most often referred to, is a combination of public affairs, media relations, research and analysis, and is used to create an image, style or idea of value and attitude of an organisation or individual.

A PR person basically works towards establishing or improving mutual understanding and goodwill between his company / client and the various groups with which it is concerned.

A growing area handled by Public Relations professionals is that of Event management.

The writer is a noted career expert

US slowdown
IT hiring slackens

The Indian IT industry, which has been on a hiring spree for the last two years, appears to have been hit by the US slowdown, with recruitment firms saying the software companies are trying to cut down on new additions.

Although Indian IT companies are venturing into the European market, the US still accounts over 70 per cent of their revenues. Any slowdown in this market will impact the margin and profitability of the IT companies, which are now looking to cut costs on possible areas like excessive hiring.

"There is a definite decline in the recruitments in the last two-to-three months. This is prominent in the IT services segment and not so much in the Business Process Outsourcing and product development segment," Unit Head of Kelly Services, India's IT recruitment cell at Hyderabad, Phanishree Puramshetty said recently.

Companies are looking at all possible means to cut costs and reducing the people on bench is just one form of it, she said.

"Earlier, IT companies used to hire anticipating projects, but this is no longer happening. IT companies now hire as and when demand emerges," strategist at research firm KRIS, Arun Kejriwal, said.

"Many IT companies are giving out no or lower bonuses this year. Recruitments are happening in the junior and mid-level management but not in the senior level," Executive Access India's Research Associate Vansh Vardhan Joshi said.

The current slowdown in hiring is likely to continue for another six months, according to Joshi.

While the recruitments have been reduced across all levels, it is the senior level management, which is suffering the most, he said.

With slowdown in the US likely to continue for some more time, the trend of decline in hiring is also expected to continue, says a recruitment firm.

Employees are also realising that it is not conducive to their growth to keep changing jobs and this is in fact leading to more stability in the industry, believes Kejriwal.

IT bellwether Infosys Technologies has already announced reduction in their hiring plans this year as compared to last year. Infosys would be recruiting 25,000 employees, compared to 32,000 last year.

The recruitment firms are also anticipating low salary hikes. — PTI

Talent crunch forces BPOs to Tier II cities

The surge in real estate prices and a talent crunch in metros are forcing the $11 billion Indian BPO industry to move to Tier II cities in the country, according to a study conducted by consultancy firm Everest Group.

"It is difficult to sustain the growth in Tier I cities because of the rising real estate prices and talent crunch.

There is no option but to move to Tier II cities," Everest Group's Country Head (India) Gaurav Gupta said in New Delhi recently.

As of now, the BPO industry is concentrated in seven cities namely Bangalore, NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

"Movement to lower-cost cities within India is likely to result in additional 15-30 per cent reduction in operating cost despite lower employability and higher management costs," head of Global Services at Everest Research Institute, Nikhil Rajpal, said.

Everest Group is a global consulting firm specialising in sourcing and offshoring advisory services.

The study ranks several Tier II and Tier III cities on their potential to become BPO hubs for various domains in the future.

For finance and accounting services, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Jaipur, Indore and Nashik emerge as ideal cities to host BPO firms.

Similarly, Nagpur, Vishakhapatnam, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore and Mundra are ideal to have BPO operations in logistics domain.

The domestic BPO industry, which is fighting competition from other emerging outsourcing destination like The Philippines and Malaysia, will need to move to smaller cities to lower cost and get talent pool, the study said.

In order to successfully operate in Tier II or Tier III cities, the industry with government's support needs to create an enabling ecosystem, including physical and social infrastructure.

It added that the ongoing US slowdown is likely to provide impetus to the BPO industry in the country as to automate is the easiest way to reduce cost.

The Indian industry has to be ready to bag this emerging market, the study stated. — PTI

Fortnightly Quiz-308

‘On path of peace and progress’

1. Which party was swept to power in Nepal recently?

2. Who recently secured third term as Italy’s prime minister?

3. After how many years was rail link between India and Bangladesh re-established recently?

4. Which multi-cultural city of the UK will have a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi installed within next three years?

5. Which first aircraft carrier of India is all set to be part of a major defence heritage project in Mumbai?

6. Which Indian city has recorded the biggest increase in industrial property rents across the world?

7. Which Hindi film, released recently, has also been dubbed in sign language for the benefit of hearing and speech impaired children?

8. Which corporation recently acquired Reuters Group?

9. On the banks of which river is Lucknow situated?

10. Expand DRDO.

11. Which jubilee is being celebrated by the Indian Coffee House this year?

12. Which Mughal emperor’s dagger fetched `A31.7 million at an auction in London recently?

13. What is the fuel of the Beijing Olympic torch?

14. From which city does the journey of the Olympic torch begin?

15. Which batsman has the highest individual score in Twenty20 cricket?

Winners of quiz 307: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Divjot Kaur Cheema, VI-A, Sat Paul Mittal School, Urban Estate II, Dugri, Ludhiana-141002 Second: Nandani Kapila, X-C, CL Kapoor Public School, Kahan Niwas, Kapoor Complex, Solan-173212 Third: Sumedha Aggarwal, XII-A, KV no 1, near Patel Park, Ambala Cantt- 133001

Answers to quiz 307: Earth Hour; Tata Motors; Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani; L.K.Advani; Arthur C Clarke; Rajiv Gandhi International Airport; 72; India; DPT; India; 300 kph; Israel; Three; Virender Sehwag; Don Bradman, Brian Lara &Virender Sehwag

Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address.

Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place to facilitate the delivery of the prize money.

— Tarun Sharma