Air India Pilot Gets the Rewind on His License
Meanwhile, the sky seems to be getting a fine‑tuned reminder that alcohol and aviation don’t mix. A senior Air India pilot, who also doubles as the airline’s director of operations, has had his flying privileges suspended for a staggering three years after he slipped on the scale twice before a London hop.
Who’s the Storm‑trooper?
- Arvind Kathpalia – chief operations director, board‑member, and now the subject of a police‑style hold‑up.
- He’s not new to this throttle drama: back in 2017, he was handed a three‑month pause for supposedly ditching two breath‑alyzer tests.
- Today, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has slapped the halt on his license starting 11‑11‑2018, clocking the maximum three‑year limit.
When Flights Take an Unexpected Spin
After the two failed tests, Arvind said he’d fight the verdict, claiming the airline’s internal politics – a rather bitter mix for a struggling state‑owned carrier – are to blame.
India’s Sky Is Growing Faster Than Its Pilots’ Past Mistakes
- The country’s aviation market is roaring, with a 20% jump in passenger traffic domestically and abroad over recent years.
- Over 1 million flights launched last fiscal year, as per DGCA data.
- Between 2015‑2017, 132 pilots flunked breath‑alyzer tests during mandatory pre‑flight screenings.
- 112 of those were first‑timers, earning a three‑month licence pause.
- 15 were repeat offenders, receiving a hefty three‑year suspension.
- One pilot had his licence revoked outright after a third failure, while four foreign pilots lost their overseas permits.
Arvind’s Own Timeline
In January 2017, the pilot was once again slapped with a three‑month break after allegedly refusing to take breath tests before and after a Bengaluru‑to‑New‑Delhi flight. That case surfaced on an online legal portal and still looms in public memory.
Fast forward to last August: the Indian Commercial Pilots Association – the union representing Air India’s aviators – formally demanded stern action against him, citing missed tests and other questionable behaviors. It’s unclear if his operations director duties, overseeing flight operations, ground procedures, and safety training, will continue.
Will He Still Be Flying Through Air India’s Boardroom?
The future remains murky: Will Arvind keep his seat on Air India’s board, or will the airline’s leadership shake up the cockpit with fresh faces? Only time will tell.
For now, the sky’s a little clearer, albeit with a few more cautious pilots swaddled in sobriety regulations.
