Low-cost airlines ask DGCA to amend cabin crew training rules

Mumbai : Low-cost airlines have asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ease cabin crew training rules as it could impact their operations. Last March, the DGCA introduced new civil aviation requirement (CAR) on cabin crew training which specifies qualification and experience requirements of cabin crew among other things.
The regulation states that a cabin crew in charge must possess minimum four years of flying experience including one year experience of an aircraft type. The regulator has permitted airlines till September after which this rule will come into effect. At present the cabin crew in charge needs to have only one year experience. Now airlines are worried the new rule could impact their operations and affect expansion as they do not have sufficient number of crew with four years experience, an aviation ministry official said. Also, there are not too many personnel with that kind of experience who are available for recruitment.
“DGCA has given airlines over a year’s window before implementing this rule. However now the airlines are suggesting DGCA defer the implementation or amend the rule,” he stated. It is learnt that low cost carriers such as IndiGo and SpiceJet have approached the DGCA seeking a stay on the rule.
Full service carriers such as Air India and Jet Airways would not face a big problem as they have sufficient crew with over four years experience. A DGCA offcial said the matter was under consideration and the ministry will have to take a call whether to give reprieve to airlines or to amend the rule. It is also carrying out a study of cabin crew requirement of each airline and availability of manpower.
05/06/11 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard