DGCA bars 90 SpiceJet pilots from flying Boeing 737 MAX planes

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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has barred 90 pilots of low-cost airline SpiceJet from flying operating Boeing 737 Max aircraft as they have not undergone proper simulator training to operate the aircraft.</p>
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The 90 pilots will have to go through proper training on the Boeing Max simulator before they can fly these planes again.</p>
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These pilots will have to undergo training again to the satisfaction of DGCA," DGCA Director General Arun Kumar said.</p>
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"SpiceJet currently operates 11 MAX aircraft and about 144 pilots are required to operate them", DGCA said.</p>
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Since Spicejet has 650 trained pilots to fly Boeing MAX planes, it still has as many as 560 pilots to continue flying the planes.</p>
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SpiceJet is facing a cash crunch so the DGCA is keeping a close watch on the airline to ensure that it does not compromise on air safety merely to save costs, an official told<em> Indian Narrative.</em></p>