An Air India pilots’ union on Monday suggested to aviation regulator DGCA that COVID-positive pilots grounded for over 14 days should be allowed to fly after being declared negative by an approved medical examiner as the current protocol makes them unavailable for duty for six months.
“This (proposed solution) will ensure that precious human resources are not wasted,” The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) said in a letter.
It said that if a pilot is tested positive for COVID-19, he goes on a mandatory 14-day “sick” leave and then he has to go for a special medical examination in New Delhi or Bengaluru.