Bloated AI on hiring spree, to onboard 270 co-pilots

Sources in the know of the development also say the airline has created a new post of chief pilot as well despite it already having two somewhat similar positions--director of operations and executive director of operations--being manned by two senior pilots.

Air India has, however, defended the hiring plan, citing operational and regulatory requirements. The massive pilot recruitment comes on the back of hiring of 500 cabin crew by the state-run carrier weeks before government floated a preliminary information memorandum inviting bidders to buy 76 per cent stake. 

Government will also exit the low-cost international subsidiary Air India Express and its 50 per cent stake in the ground handling joint venture AISATS. The rest of the stake is held by SATS or Singapore Airport Terminal Services. 

“Air India is in the process of adding 270 co-pilots when such crew is already in excess. And this hiring is being done in the reserved category and that too at a time when there is a big question mark on the issue of retention of the workforce post-privatisation,” airline sources said.

Air India has 11,214 permanent employees as of December 2017. These include 2,056 on deputation to other companies and agencies. It also has 2,913 on contract and 2,661 on deputation from other group companies as per the government memorandum on privatisation.

Sources also alleged that the airline has recently created two ED-level posts in the IT and civil departments. 

“The creation of a new post for civil (department) is beyond comprehension as the airline is in the process of getting rid of its real estate and it can’t be understood why there has to be a post of for such work,” they said. 

Moreover, the airline is now creating the post of chief pilot though there are already two occupants who are in charge of flight operations, sources alleged.

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said manufacturing of passenger aircraft and aviation equipment under Make in India will be one of his top priorities. “Manufacturing of aircraft in India will be one of the priorities because we will be buying a large number of aircraft over a period of time, so Make in India programme can actually benefit,” the minister said after he chaired a meeting of airline industry stakeholders, including CMDs of different airlines. 

“We are making a cargo policy. We have invited suggestions from them so that the cargo policy, which will be made eventually, will benefit all and in fact, everybody agreed that this is a great opportunity for us to make India as a next cargo hub,” he said. 

The minister, who also heads the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, added that “safety and security in the aviation sector” would be one of his top priorities along with “creating world-class passenger and cargo hubs in India”.