Stop taking trainee pilots or face legal action

New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) Accusing Air India management of adding to the airline's financial woes, its pilots' body has opposed the recruitment of trainee cockpit crew in large numbers at a time when the company was reeling under a financial crunch.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) also warned of legal action if the management did not stop the process of recruiting trainee pilots, saying the services of those already on the rolls could be used as they were "underutilised".

In a letter to Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav, ICPA General Secretary S Sabu said the ICPA had in 2006 agreed to fly up to 90 hours per month and 240 hours each quarter.

However, the average flying hours of pilots dropped to 60 hours per month and even 40 hours in some bases, he said, adding "this clearly proves that we are underutilised".