Seems the US has a mandatory retirement age for its pilots of 60. So what's an over the hill US pilot to do? Come to India of course, where the retirement age is 65. In fact, over 40 US pilots are flying aircraft in India according to The Times:
MUMBAI: In a practice that flies in the face of the rules of their home country, 40 US pilots over the age of 60 are flying passenger aircraft in India. In the US, they would not have been allowed to do so.
Apart from these 40 pilots, there are another 26 senior-citizen American pilots in the queue, awaiting approval from India’s aviation authority, according to sources. These pilots do not possess a valid licence to fly passengers, nor are they put through the rigorous annual medical examination that Indian pilots of their age have to compulsorily clear. The retirement age of pilots in India is 65.
Of the three airlines employing such pilots, two are major carriers operating long-haul international routes while the third is a low-cost domestic airline. "They are also rostered to operate international flights which is high-risk," said the source.
Those in the aviation industry warn that in event of an accident, the ramifications for India will be serious. "Such an accident could dent India’s aviation safety image," said Capt M Ranganathan, a Boeing instructor pilot. For instance, if a Boeing is involved in an accident, the aviation regulatory authorities of the country where the aircraft was manufactured — the US in this case — will be part of the investigations. The US’s Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board will require the US pilots to produce their licence for investigation. The only licence they can produce is the FAA one, which is not valid for flying passengers.
"Such an accident could dent India’s aviation safety image?" That seems a bit alarmist to us. Just because they're old, doesn't mean they're not skilled. In fact, skill over age has much to say for it. What do our readers think?
Hyderabad passport getter inside news tip, have a good book! Apparantly, only a limited number of passport applications willl be accepted everyday so people are arriving at the Regional Passport Office as early as 2:30 am to stand in line (queue up over there.) The counters open at 7:30 am to hand out the limited number of tokens for the day which entitles applicants to submit forms. IMPORTANT FACT: only 500 tokens are alloted to give out a day so if you arrive at this place and see more than 500 people, haul ass you are out of luck! Wake up earlier to and get a good spot in line to guarantee a token.
With no name or logo yet the new largest Asian airlines is about to be formed. The merging of Air India and Indian Airlines Inc. is one step closer to happening after it's third meeting and GoM approval. If and when they get the cabinet nod, it will take about 16 weeks to complete formalities and the integration will be done in phases. The entire process of integration will take at least two years.
The GoM (A Group of Ministers) headed by Pranab Mukherjee has endorsed the roadmap prepared by Accenture, for the Indian and Air India merger after its third meeting.
The GoM has finally decided to send the proposal to cabinet shortly.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the merged entity both Indian and Air India will be merged to a new company there will be a clear mechanism to protect the interest of all employees including casual workers but the decision on the name of the company and branding will follow.
“(Regarding) wage parity, there is no question of anybody being worse off or being downgraded from where they are today. In fact, it can only get better, including casual workers, who are working with both Air India and Indian Airlines. Their conditions of employment shall continue to remain as they are today,” said Patel.
Holy Smokes, just look at this picture. There is nothing to do there, nowhere to stay and it's kind of hard to get to but I think once you're there it might be kind of spiritual.
Pangong Tso also known as Pangong Lake, found in Kashmir, is the world’s highest brackish lake at 14,256 feet above sea level. A few years back the government decided to open it to tourists though the lake and its surrounding is under army surveillance. The lake was once divided between Ladakh and Tibet as early as 1684 under the Treaty of Tingmosgang signed between the king of Ladakh, Deldan Namgyal, and the Regent of Tibet. As of today it is shared by India and China. The long and narrow lake stems in the neighbourhood of the famous Chushul mountains. The size of the lake is best inferred from the probable etymology of its name, Pangong, which means extensive concavity. In winter, the lake freezes completely despite being salt water.
Lesson number one: if you are going to hijack a plane then speak more than one language and lesson number two: Don't Get Caught!!
A fast-thinking pilot with passengers in cahoots fooled a hijacker by braking hard upon landing, then accelerating to knock the man down. When he fell, flight attendants threw boiling water in his face, and about 10 people pounced on him, Spanish officials said Friday.
The Air Mauritania Boeing 737 carrying 71 passengers and a crew of eight was hijacked by a lone gunman brandishing two pistols Thursday evening shortly after it took off from Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, for Gran Canaria, one of Spain's Canary Islands, with a planned stopover in Nouadhibou in northern Mauritania.
Along the way, speaking to the hijacker, the pilot realized the man did not speak French. So he used the plane's public address system to warn the passengers in French of the ploy he was going to try: brake hard upon landing, then speed up abruptly. The idea was to catch the hijacker off balance, and have crew members and men sitting in the front rows of the plane jump him, the Spanish official said.
300,000 street vendors could be forced to pack up shop after generations of serving up some of the most tasty samosas, dumplings and other spicy snacks found in Delhi. This all in an attempt to clean up the streets for the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in Dehli. Authorities want food to be prepacked and sold rather than cooked there and then. Unsafe and unhygenic cooking conditions are the reasons for this proposed ban but Corporatization and Commercialisation seem like a better bet to me. I say, LET THEM EAT CHAAT!!
In the continued frenzy that is the Indian airline industry, airlines are expected to raise $1B in equity debt with at least two expected to go public in 07/08 according to a recent study. Eschewing profits in the race for market share, airlines continue to be bullish that the rising tide will lift all boats or in this case airplanes, regardless of profitability or management expertise. The study suggests the market cannot sustain so many airlines and that a shakeout is imminent:
The industry will also witness a shakeout in the form of mergers and takeovers, to eventually see the emergence of two full-service carriers, three-four large national operators and a similar number of regional players, the study adds.
Mumbai: Indian national selectors have included out-of-form Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan in the 15-man squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 which will be played in the West Indies.
Mohammed Kaif, Ramesh Powar and Suresh Raina did not get a place in the squad and as was expected, stylish batsman VVS Laxman was also ignored.
The ICC Cricket World Cup will be taking place in the West Indies. Find flights and compare airfares on Mobissimo India. Search, find, sort, compare, and book hotel rooms and accommodation in the beautiful West Indies with Mobissimo's Hotel Search engine.
Alright, so I don't actually live in India nor have I ever been there but I am interning at the home office in San Francisco and I am supposed to fill in and write a blog for the Mobissimo India Blog. So, here it is in all of its glory. I was checking out some sites and ran across mention of this place called the Seva Cafe located in Ahmedabad, India. You see the concept behind this place is that you pay only what you wish. The meals that you eat are meant to be enjoyed as a gift from those who have eaten there previously and to complete the circle of giving, you yourself can leave a donation for those who will dine there after you. The items on the menu aren't even priced!! Great idea and Great Karma!! via Trendhunter
Hyderabad passport getter inside news tip, have a good book! Apparantly, only a limited number of passport applications willl be accepted everyday so people are arriving at the Regional Passport Office as early as 2:30 am to stand in line (queue up over there.) The counters open at 7:30 am to hand out the limited number of tokens for the day which entitles applicants to submit forms. IMPORTANT FACT: only 500 tokens are alloted to give out a day so if you arrive at this place and see more than 500 people, haul ass you are out of luck! Wake up earlier to and get a good spot in line to guarantee a token.
Holy Smokes, just look at this picture. There is nothing to do there, nowhere to stay and it's kind of hard to get to but I think once you're there it might be kind of spiritual. 
