DGCA proposes to double pilot notice period to 1 year

Pilots in India may soon need to serve a doubled notice period of one year if they resign. Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revived a year-old proposal to review its over-a-decadeold rule of six months' notice period for pilots. In a draft proposal, which has created a furore in the pilot community, the regulator has sought to make mandatory for commanders to serve a notice period of one year and in case of first officer six months. Currently pilots have to serve a six-month period for their employers, according to regulations.

Industry insiders have raised eyebrows over the timing of the proposal as it coincides with market leader IndiGo's announcement of starting a new fleet of 50 ATR-72's for regional operations. Air India's regional subsidiary Alliance Air has alleged that IndiGo is poaching their pilots with higher salaries. "IndiGo is trying to poach our pilots and engineers of the ATR fleet through higher salaries. If pilots resign en masse, it will impact Regional Connectivity Scheme as we are the biggest player there," an Alliance Air spokesperson said. IndiGo spokesperson Ajay Jasra said the airline is not poaching pilots from rivals.

The regulator's reason for this proposal is that groups of pilots are resigning without providing any notice period to airlines, which forces the airlines to cancel their flights at last minute.