Trainee Roster Planner

Air India Limited; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Air India Limited is seeking a pilot crew rosters planner responsible for efficient planning, analysis, and optimization of rosters to comply with DGCA regulations and company policies. The role emphasizes fair distribution of flights and hours, with close coordination across Training, Licensing, HOTAC, HR, and IT teams.

You will contribute to automation initiatives, lead roster-related projects, and ensure roster coverage while maintaining crew welfare guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or MBA/PGDM preferred.
• 0–6 years of relevant experience in crew rostering.
• Extensive knowledge of airline/airport operations and aviation industry.

Responsibilities

• Plan, analyze, and optimize pilot crew rosters per DGCA and company regs.
• Ensure fair distribution of flights and duty hours among crew members.
• Manage leave allocations (annual, short, golden off, birthday off, offs) within timelines.
• Update rostering system with pre-assignment, non-availability, and carry-forward details.
• Plan ALC, DH travel, HOTAC, and seat blocking ahead of roster release.
• Coordinate with Training to accommodate schedule changes and roster coverage.
• Collaborate with Flight Ops, Training, Licensing, HOTAC, HR, and DT to align rostering with goals.
• Participate in projects to improve rostering efficiency.

Skills

Airline Operations

Strategic Planning

Interpersonal Skills

Coordination & Planning

Team Leadership

Decision Making

Leadership

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree or MBA/PGDM

Tools

CAE-CM

Jeppesen Crew Rostering (JCR)

Crew Pairing (JCP)

Job description

Job Description:

A. Job Purpose

• Responsible for efficient planning, analysis, and optimization of pilot crew rosters to ensure compliance with DGCA and company regulations, equitable distribution of flying hours, and alignment with operational requirements.
• The role contributes to automation of processes, continuous improvement initiatives, and overall enhancement of roster planning efficiency and quality.

B. Key Accountabilities

• Develop and release pilot rosters in accordance with DGCA regulations, company policies, and crew welfare guidelines.
• Ensure fair and balanced distribution of flights and duty hours among crew members.
• Manage crew leave allocations including annual leave, short leave, golden off, birthday off, and request offs within defined timelines.
• Update pre-assignment tasks, non-availability, and carry-forward details in the rostering system.
• Plan and communicate Annual Line Checks (ALC), Deadhead (DH) travel, HOTAC, and seat blocking requirements ahead of roster release.
• Coordinate with the Training team to accommodate schedule changes and maintain roster coverage.
• Collaborate with Flight Ops, Training, Licensing, HOTAC, HR, and Digital & Technology teams to align roster planning with broader operational goals.
• Participate in projects and studies aimed at improving rostering efficiency and effectiveness.

Any other additional responsibility could be assigned to the role holder from time to time as a standalone project or regular work. The same would be suitably represented in the Primary responsibilities and agreed between the incumbent, reporting officer and HR.

C. Skills Required for the role

• Airline Operational Expertise Strategic Outlook
• Strong Interpersonal Skills Coordination & Planning Skills
• Team Management Skills Decision making skills
• Leadership Skills Problem Solving Skills

D. Key Interfaces

Internal Interfaces

• Flight Operation Department • Work closely with the Flight Crew Operations team to develop optimized Flight rosters that meet operational requirements while adhering to regulatory standards and safety protocols.
• Crew Departments • Coordinate with Training team, DOPS, licensing team, HOTAC, DH to align crew rosters.
• Digital & Technology Department • Needs to liaise with the IT team to leverage technological resources effectively, streamline rostering workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance decision-making through data-driven insights.

External Interfaces

• Crew Management System Providers • Liaise with the Crew Management system provider for all system related activities.

E. Educational and Experience Requirements

Minimum Education Requirement • Bachelor’s degree or/with MBA or PGDM (Preferable)

Experience • 0-6 years with relevant experience in crew rostering

Experience • Extensive and comprehensive knowledge of the airline/ airport operation and aviation industry.

Experience • 2-6 years of relevant experience in crew roster planning.

Experience • Proficiency in CAE-CM, Jeppesen`s Crew Rostering (JCR), & Crew Pairing (JCP) is an added advantage.