Pilots' parity row: HC verdict on Friday

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said it would pronounce on Friday the verdict on the plea of a pilots' body of erstwhile domestic carrier Indian Airlines seeking parity with their counterparts in Air India.

After hearing the arguments on behalf of lawyers of ICPA (Indian Commercial Pilots Association), Air India, Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), the union of Air India pilots and the Ministry of Civil Aviation on the petition of ICPA, Justice Suresh Kait reserved the order for Friday.

Earlier, ICPA had moved the High Court alleging it has not been dealt with "at a par" with Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), an association of pilots of Air India.

Seeking parity in training, the petitioner pilots body, in its plea, alleged the commanders (head pilot) of basic aircraft of former Indian Airlines have not been considered by Air India management for training of commander of advanced aircraft like Boeing 747, 787 and 777.

However, even co-pilots of Air India were considered for the training of advanced aircraft ahead of Indian Airlines commanders, ICPA said.

Appearing for the pilots' body, senior counsel Rajiv Nayyar and N K Kaul submitted that for shifting of commanders of basic aircraft of Indian Airlines to Boeing  no special training is required and interchange is immediately possible but they were denied parity with their counterparts of Air India.