63 SpiceJet pilots face action for violating duty hour norms

New Delhi: Aviation regulator DGCA has taken action against 63 pilots of SpiceJet for operating flights beyond their stipulated duty hours, the government said Thursday.

Pilots who have exceeded the flight duty period more than once have been suspended for 15 days and warnings have been issued to those who have exceeded the stipulated time only once, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha told the Lok Sabha.

"During surveillance and subsequent scrutiny of records, it has been revealed that 63 pilots of SpiceJet had operated flights exceeding flight duty period as laid down in Civil Aviation Requirements...," he said in a written reply.

However, the Minister did not disclose specific details such as when these incidents happened.

In a separate written reply, Sinha said the new airport at Kannur in Kerala is expected to be completed by May 31, 2017.

The project is being implemented by Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) through funds from equity and term loan from banks.

"A sum of Rs 34.06 crore was released by Kerala state government to the company during financial year 2010-11, which was converted into equity during the financial year 2014-15.

"As on July 31, 2016, expenditure on the project through equity and term loan funding is Rs 1,220 crore," he said.