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A section of Air India's pilots has decided not to operate flights to Kathmandu stating safety concerns. The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) has asked its members not to operate flights to the capital of Nepal alleging that no familiarisation training for approach and go around procedures have take place after the procedures were changed for the Kathmandu airport.
The approach and go around procedures for Runway 02 of Tribhuvan International Airport have been revised by the Nepal's Civil Aviation regulator as of March 4. Air India's training manual requires pilots to undergo a familiarisation training for Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR), Standard Instrument Departures (SIDS) and VORDME runway 02 approach including normal, abnormal and single engine procedures on Airbus A-320 or Airbus A-330 simulators.
“Since VORDME runway 02 approach and go around procedures for Kathmandu have been revised, a resolution has been passed by the Central Executive Committee of ICPA in the interest of flight safety that all members are directed not to undertake any flights to Kathmandu till such time the training for the same is provided by the company,” the ICPA said in a letter.
Expenditure
Meanwhile, the ICPA has also raised concerns regarding Air India's instructions for carrying 1.5 tonnes of extra fuel on a must basis for flights to Mumbai.
The pilots claim that this directive put an additional cost burden of Rs 30,000 per sector per flight into Mumbai.
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