100 reasons for Air India to worry

A day after MiDDAY reported that the Air India pilots' 10-day strike had been called off after a meeting on May 6 with AI management and Aviation Ministry officials without any mention of corruption charges (Corruption Crusade Merely an Eyewash), the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) is drafting a 100-point letter detailing instances of corruption by the management, which they intend to send to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry this week.

The ICPA claims is taking the step at the behest of the aviation ministry officials who had met them on May 6.
"The civil aviation ministry had asked for our feedback on charges of corruption. We are preparing a letter that will detail 100 points of corruption occurring in the national carrier," a senior official of pilot body said on condition of anonymity. The letter will highlight corrupt practices and suggest ways to bring the national carrier back to health, he added.

"Questions will include why Air India withdrew its operations in profitable sectors and whether it was done to benefit private carriers. We will also request an investigation on the acquisition of new aircrafts that benefits only one manufacturer," he said.

The AI spokesperson refused to comment. The 10-day strike by the pilot body that ended on May 6 saw AI pilots shout slogans and come out in support of Anna Hazare, who led an anti-corruption campaign to push for the inclusion of the anti-draft Lokpal Bill in the Monsoon session of Parliament. However, the final meeting between pilots and the management and ministry officials didn't include any discussion on allegations of corruption. The final minutes (a copy of which is with SMD) was prepared without a single mention of corruption and the strike was called off.

Issues the letter will address
>> The selling and leasing of airplanes at inflated rates that benefit the leaser.
>> Hiring foreign pilots at high pay and perks through dubious recruitment agencies.
>> Conversion of passenger planes to cargo planes at millions of dollars and ending its utilisation in subsequent months.
>> Change of airline brand from INDIAN to NACIL to AIR INDIA, which involved re-branding expenditure that ran into crores of rupees.
>> Promoting junior level employees to executive positions despite tainted records