By Chris Amy Vaz in Dubai for Mangalorean.com

Dubai Oct 1:  Air India Express has a distinguished fleet of flight personnel manning flights across the miles to domestic and international destinations.  Over the past few years, the carrier has been suffering from an shortage of pilots with the launching of new Airlines and the existing Airlines expanding their services, showing a growth of 20% in domestic traffic.

A revised pay scale that was accomplished in December 2005 however, has perked things up for the Airlines with high caliber pilots continuing to operate Air India Express flights across their regular destinations.    

Air India Express IX 802 that will make its maiden journey on October 3, 2006 on the Delhi-Amritsar-Dubai-Mangalore route is a Boeing 737-800 carrier that will be commanded by Senior Training Pilot-in-command, Captain Rahul Sahani, a very experienced pilot with a distinguished career.  Captain Sahani comes from Delhi and has flown with Air India Express since its inception.  In my telephone conversation with him from Dubai (where I am at the moment) to Delhi where he resides, I was absolutely floored by his charm and intelligence.  When asked about his feelings on commanding this flight to Mangalore he said – " It’s not only a great opportunity, but also a great pleasure, honor and privilege to command the first international flight to Mangalore. I am very familiar with this route as I have landed at Bajpe Airport many times in my career as a pilot." 

Reliable sources state that Captain Sahani has 14 years service with Alliance Air prior to joining Air India Express.  He's 34 years old, yet has 7,000 flying hours to his credit, a feat achieved by few.  He is not only an ace pilot but also a Training Captain (one who trains junior pilots) with Air India Express.  He confirmed that Bajpe airport was a qualified airport or a Category C airport, one that is completely suitable for landing a Boeing 737-800.

When questioned if there was any difference in flying an LCC (Low Cost Carrier) as opposed to a FSC (Full Service Carrier) Captain Sahani said – "Not at all.  The Cockpit Crew and the Operational Staff does not feel any difference as far as our responsibilities are concerned.  Our main concern as operational crew is the complete safety of our passengers.  Safe flying is of prime importance. Nothing else matters."

Coming back to our reliable sources, we were also told that only qualified and adequate pilots who had passed the regulations of the DGCA (Division of General Civil Aviation) were listed to command flights to Mangalore.  The Air India Express pilots have already completed their familiarization procedures with Bajpe Airport and this harbors only good tidings for all future international flights.

Many thanks to Captain Rahul Sahani for taking the time for this very enlightening tete-a-tete with me.  Captain Sahani and his Delhi based crew will be having a lay over at Mangalore once they touch down at Bajpe airport.  A Mumbai based crew will take over flight operations for the Mangalore – Dubai route. 

On behalf of all Mangaloreans, I convey my best wishes to Captain Rahul Sahani and his crew.

(Due to security reasons prior to take off, we have not published the photograph of Capt. Sahani)

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