scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Friday, November 28, 2025
TopicAviation

Topic: Aviation

Air India introduces ‘Flexi Contract for Pilots’ to help balance operations

The airline says the plan aims to match pilots' preferences with roster needs and focuses on work-life balance without hurting efficiency.

What the MiG-21 taught me

Unlike modern aircraft with their sophisticated systems and computer-mediated controls, the MiG-21 was pure aviation. The connection between the pilot and the machine was magical.

‘Who audits the auditor?’ AAIB’s reports expose flaws in Indian aviation oversight—but spotlight on it too

A look at AAIB’s 68 final reports on aircraft accidents shows a pattern of neglect & lapses in responsibility across all levels of airport management as well as regulatory oversight.

67% aircraft accident reports cite pilot action, but show human error often last straw in flawed system

Lack of cockpit coordination & pilot disagreements, poor decision-making, lapses in judgement are mentioned among factors contributing to human error & complacency in 46 final reports.

Air India crash report shows an institutional reform of AAIB and aviation ministry is in order

The civil aviation ministry could have recognised the enormity of the Air India crash and prepared the AAIB and its investigating team for its sensitivities.

‘Mayday’ protocol to navigating weather, inside the challenging job of an air traffic controller

In an interview, air traffic controller reveals how it’s minute-to-minute work that demands total focus for hours at a stretch. ‘It’s about responsibility without visibility’.

ThePrint Quiz, 13 July, 2025: Aviation disasters

As AAIB releases preliminary report on AI-171 crash, in this edition of ThePrint Quiz, we look at some of the worst aviation disasters the world has seen over the years.

Takeoffs are now-or-never moments. Pilots have no safety height or time to rethink

The Air India Boeing Dreamliner bound for London from Ahmedabad crashed shortly after it took off. The pilot gave a ‘Mayday’ call after takeoff.

With Modi flagging-off maiden flight, Hisar’s integrated aviation hub dream set for takeoff

Haryana govt has a plan to develop 7,200-acre integrated aviation hub in Hisar. Airport will cater to domestic flights for now, with plans to upgrade to international by 2030.

Final assembly line in India for current commercial aircraft ‘doesn’t make sense’, says Airbus CEO

Airbus has final assembly lines in India for C295 aircraft for Air Force & H125 helicopters, but not for commercial aircraft. CEO Guillaume Faury gives 2 reasons for Airbus's reluctance.

On Camera

Blaming Macaulay for India’s failures is just lazy politics we’ve perfected since 1947

Macaulay's intent was quite different from what has been propagated by Indian leaders and public intellectuals, who love to live in their own sectarian mental chambers.

Karnataka startups feel the chill as global funding winter sets in. Fintech emerges as sole bright spot

The state raises just $2.7 billion in first nine months of 2025 compared to $4.5 billion last year, with late-stage investments hit hardest.

Airbus & Embraer in the mix, IAF plans revamp of military transport fleet with MTA as new workhorse

Once acquired by IAF, the medium transport aircraft (MTA) will replace both AN-32s and IL-76s, it is learnt. The idea behind the revamp is to meet modern operational needs.

A tribute to Tejas. India’s delay culture is the real enemy in the skies

It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.