AI to have senior pilot, engineer on board soon

The Modi govt has sent a clear signal that it wants experts to have a say in running Air India. The airline will soon have senior pilots and engineers on its board. The govt has created a board position as director (operations) which will be manned by a senior pilot. The Public Selection Enterprises Board (PSEB) Tuesday chose captain Arvind Kathpalia, currently AI's executive director (operations), as the first pilot-director of the airline. Currently, apart from the chairman, govt representatives and independent directors, AI has board members for only 3 areas — finance, personnel and commercial. The move is being seen as a signal from prime minister Modi that he wants professionals with domain knowledge to have a vital say in running the airline. <br/>