A FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at a busy New Jersey airport on Saturday after a bird strike caused an engine fire that could be seen in the morning sky.

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Air India to Cut (or Cut Cuts)

The issue of performance payments is being reviewed after the (Indian) unions rejected a 50 per cent cut proposal.

Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav is meeting with the committees reviewing the productivity-linked incentives, examining the PLI issue of pilots, engineers, officers and other technical and non-technical staff.

The examination is part of an operational and financial turnaround plan pruning costs, increasing yields and making profits for Air India.

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Statement from the FAA

Statement from the FAA in Response to the Associated Press Story about Temporary Flight Restrictions over the Gulf of Mexico
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today’s story by the Associated Press contains a number of inaccuracies with regard to the government’s oversight of flyovers in and around the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Since May 28th, the FAA has approved every request to fly over the area–more than 176 requests. While the temporary flight restriction requires pilots to stay above 3,000 feet, the FAA is working with news organizations and granting exceptions so that pilots can fly at lower altitudes throughout the day.

The reason for these requirements is safety, pure and simple. So far, there have been a number of reported near misses over the Gulf due to heavy traffic and pilots flying above the oil spill to give their passengers a closer look.

On Sunday, a helicopter carrying a member of the Associated Press violated the temporary flight restriction around the oil clean-up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. The helicopter operator was not authorized to fly into the restricted area and was flying at various altitudes well below 3,000 feet. For over 30 minutes, the pilot was not in communication with the Border Patrol aircraft that is providing traffic advisories for all participating aircraft. Border Patrol was forced to divert other traffic in the area, creating a dangerous situation for everyone involved. When the pilot was finally reached he was told to leave the area.

A pilot deviation (an action that results in the violation of a Federal Aviation Regulation) is being filed against the helicopter pilot.

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Air India’s Culture of Coercion and Fear

It’s not the Hatfields and the McCoys but it’s a feud going on between Air India and its 1,600 pilots. This is the scenario:

Pinched for money, Air India’s owes cash to pilots, employees, vendors, fuel and ground transportation suppliers; they are cutting rates and (safety) corners.

Air India is supposed to be shaping up, but they ignore rules and regulations meant to reduce pilot fatigue. Unsafe practices include changing schedules so often that some pilots refer to the company’s management style as “schedule by wake-up call.”

The Indian Pilot’s Guild sent the Star Alliance a letter exposing Air India’s culture of “coercion and fear” to compel pilots to fly long hours.

Pilots are complaining about being forced to work long hours while Air India ignores safety regulations. They can’t take off when they’re sick, for fear of being penalized, which is of course another safety violation.

After losing a billion dollars last year, Air India has applied to the Indian government for money. India’s aviation regulatory agency uncovering fraudulent pilot training and corruption in aviation administrative circles. In the face of tightening procedures, Air India will have its back against the wall if they’re going to comply with safety regulations.

Meanwhile, Air India is attempting to join the Star Alliance network of 27 airlines.

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