Nearly 800 pilots of the state-owned Air India have threatened to stop flying from April 1,if the management fails to clear all salary dues by March 31,said top sources in the airline. The pilots said non-payment of salaries has caused psychological stress which could compromise air safety. Protesting the non-payment of salaries,the pilots from Air India (International),represented by their union,Indian Pilots Guild (IPG),shot off letters on Wednesday morning to the civil aviation minister Ajit Singh,labour and employment minister Mallikarjuna Kharge,director general of civil aviation EK Bharat Bhushan and Air India CMD Rohit Nandan. In the letter,the IPG president Jeentendra Awhad said that the airline owes three months' basic salary,four months of layover and flying allowances to the pilots,which amounts to withholding compensation for nearly a quarter. The financial hardship caused by the non-payment of salaries for such an extended period may adversely affect the ability of the flight crew to safely discharge their duties.it is very likely that the safety of Air India's flight operations may be compromised,potentially endangering the lives of passengers, the letter said. The company owes nearly Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh to each pilot. While the company claimed to have paid a salary every month,the pilots dismissed it. For pilots and engineers,salary accounts for only 20 per cent of our total pay packet.
