Demoted AI pilot to lose automatic airport access pass
Senior Air India pilot Arvind Kathpalia, stripped of his flying licence for three years and demoted after failing an alcohol test shortly before he was to command a flight from New Delhi to London on November 11, is set to lose his automatic access to airports. The civil aviation ministry has started the process of revoking Kathpalia’s airport entry pass.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which issues passes to airline employees and crew, has asked Air India to surrender Kathpalia’s pass, which allows him access to all airports and all areas within airports.
“We have asked Air India to submit his pass as he is not a licence holder now. The pass is issued to pilots with valid commercial pilot licence. Senior members of airlines, who often have to visit the airports, are also issued a pass. But in his case, he is not member of Air India board now, so he will not be allowed to enter the airport (other than as a passenger),” said a BCAS official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Also, till the (time the) airline submits his pass, we have asked airports to not allow him in case he tries to enter using his airport entry pass.”
Kathpalia, who was removed from the post of director (operations) after he tested positive for alcohol content, has been demoted to executive director without any portfolio. Civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu approved his removal. Air India
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has also ordered a vigilance enquiry in the matter. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also suspended the 56-year old Air India pilot’s flying licence for three years on November 12, a day after he was found to have an unacceptably high blood alcohol count just before his flight.
An Air India spokesperson said that since Kathpalia will not have a portfolio, his entry pass will be submitted to BCAS and he will not be required to visit airports for official purposes.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation says the level of blood alcohol compatible (BAC) with safe flying is ‘zero’. Kathpalia had 007% BAC.
“When a senior pilot, who is also part of top management, violates rules blatantly, he should not be allowed to continue. By demoting him to ED, Air India is ensuring that he retires with all the privileges. He should not be allowed to burn taxpayers’ money and his airport entry pass should also be revoked immediately,” said captain Mohan Ranganathan, an aviation safety expert.