Drunken flying: 57 pilots caught!

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken action against 57 pilots for drunken flying in the past one year, terminating the service of 10 of them, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

According to the list given by Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi to the upper house, of the 10 cock-pit crew whose services were termed for having been found under intoxication in a pre-flight test, four pilots belonged to Spicejet.

Three pilots each from Indigo and Kingfisher Airlines were also found intoxicated.

In other cases, the DGCA either issued warning letters or kept the crew off flying duties for a short period, the written reply said.

Responding to another question on whether it is true that many private companies have not paid their dues to the government yet, Ravi said, "except Kingfisher Airlines and Paramount Airways, other operating private airlines are regularly settling AAI (Airports Authority of India) dues".

He added that generally private airlines are paying their dues on time and in case of defaults in payments, they are charged of penal interest, withdrawal of credit facility and they are also put on 'cash and carry' basis.

To another question regarding allegations against engineers of AAI on the issue of high price of cement considered in the cost of pavement works pertaining to Lucknow and Varanasi Airports, Ravi said the CBI is investigating the matter.