The Hindu Business Line : Passengers' body decries hike in flying hours

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) should not increase the annual flying hour limit for Indian pilots, as this would prove dangerous, according to Mr D. Sudhakara Reddy, Founder and President, Air Passengers Association of India (APAI)

Addressing reporters here on Thursday, he said that any move to increase the annual limit of 1,000 flying hours would be unadvisable as it would put the pilots under stress, especially during the monsoon months.

takes up passengers' woes

He said that APAI is actively taking up passengers' grievances with airlines and has met with success in many cases.

Recently, APAI wrote to Spice Jet, highlighting its charge of Rs 500 for wheelchairs used by passengers.

Spice Jet decided to suspend the wheelchair fee from April 1, Mr Reddy said.

He wanted other low-cost carriers also to suspend the wheelchair fee.

Mr Reddy said that APAI had written to the managing director of a low-cost airline when a Chennai-Hyderabad flight was delayed as the aircraft did not have an airworthiness certificate. In addition to the delay, the pilot, a foreigner, had abused the passengers.

The managing director had responded that the pilot had been recalled from Chennai and sent on leave pending action.

Mr Reddy said that the DGCA had not acted on APAI's request for mandatory checks on foreign pilots before they fly Indian skies.

APAI also invites passengers to register their complaints on www.air-passenger.com