Hyd Aviators Share About Industry Challenges As They Honour Air India Crash Victims
The aviators will pay tribute to the victims of the crash.
Hyderabad:Aviation professionals from across the country are set to gather in the city on Friday for the 19th edition of the Hyderabad Aviators Society meet, against the backdrop of the Air India Boeing 787 crash of June 12, killing 260 people on board the aircraft and on the ground. The aviators will pay tribute to the victims of the crash.
Ahead of the event, Deccan Chronicle spoke to several pilots on the challenges in the aviation sector and why air mishaps appear to be rising in recent times. Senior pilots explained that Indian pilots were among the best in the world, given the diverse climatic and operational conditions they navigate within the country.
Captain Syed Hammed Reza, who has flown for Air India, Saudi Airlines, and Thai Airways, offered explained: “The ratio of flight accidents has not changed significantly; it’s just that air traffic has increased drastically,” he said.
Speaking about the Ahmedabad crash, Captain Reza remarked, “In most airline crashes, 99 per cent of the time it is pilot error. This incident appears to be due to a technical failure. The RAT (ram air turbine) deploys when engines fail, and that seems to be the case here.”
He added, “The Boeing 787 has been globally reported to have hydraulic issues and electrical faults. There haven’t been many major changes in aviation technology, only a few incremental updates.”
Many pilots also raised concerns about sleep deprivation caused by irregular schedules, jet lag, and inadequate rest. Captain P.R. Singh highlighted systemic scheduling issues, saying, “The human touch is lost. Flight schedules are now handled by non-aviators using software systems. Garbage in, garbage out, this is where the system fails.”
He criticised the misinterpretation of the new flight duty time limit (FDTL) rules. “Two local nights of rest at the home base are being blatantly abused. Fatigue directly impacts sleep patterns, yet pilots are being forced to fly under such conditions,” he said.
Captain Anil Kumar, co-founder and curator of the Hyderabad Aviators Society meet, stated, “This year’s event will bring together around 150 aviation enthusiasts under one roof to celebrate the rich history and promising future of the aviation industry.”
He added, “General aviation is growing rapidly in Hyderabad, with ownership and fractional ownership of private jets on the rise. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is among the fastest-growing airports in India, currently housing four flying schools, with more expected to open soon. Hyderabad is one of the best places to begin a flying career. There's also significant potential to open new international sectors, especially to the US.”
Highlighting industrial growth, he noted, “The aviation SEZ in Hyderabad has attracted major global aviation giants such as GE, Safran, Airbus, and Boeing. We are poised to witness a quantum leap in the aviation sector.”
