Now pilots will have to serve one-year notice period before quitting

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday cleared a proposal that makes it mandatory for the senior pilots to serve a one-year notice period before quitting the job.The new rules will be applied with immediate effect.

"It has been decided that pilots working in an air transport undertaking shall give a 'Notice Period' of at least one year in respect of commanders, and six months in respect of co-pilots to the employer indicating his intention to leave the job," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in amended Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), which was issued on Wednesday.

The notice period, may however be reduced if the air transport undertaking issues the pilot a no objection certificate and also accepts his resignation earlier than the period stipulated by the DGCA.

It also said that during the notice period the pilot shall not refuse to undertake the flight duties nor shall the employer deprive the pilot of his legitimate rights and privileges with respect to the assignment of his duties. Failure to comply with the provisions of the CAR may lead to action against the pilot.

The proposal was mooted by the DGCA in May after multiple domestic airlines, under the banner of Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), had approached it urging it to increase the notice period for pilots from six months to one year arguing that a lot of resources, time and efforts are spent on training them.

OneIndia News (with PTI inputs)