AI and JUGAAD

The most recent example of JUGAAD is what transpired in AI179 on May5th. They actually did a Local ie they carried more passengers than there were seats by seating a passenger in the extra co-pilots seat and 2 others in the jump seats meant for the staff next to the doors. This of course is afoul of security and DGCA regulations - but then lets just look at this clinically.

The other option was for offering to compensate some passenger for voluntary deboarding. Instead the logic used by the pilot was to accomodate these passengers in seats other wise valid (just not earmarked for passengers!!). This is the JUGAAD which in my opinion saw the matter resolved without any tension to any passenger. Of course if this were to become routine then it raises security issues as of course you cant have anybody in the cockpit other than the pilots!! A one off JUGAAD like this will of course lead to some rejig in the preflight checklist and maybe some serious censure of the officials concerned with the happenings on in AI179 but then frankly I dont think the technical integrity of the flight was ever in doubt as most of the news channels would like you to believe!!

Those extra seats are there and if people were sitting in those seats i dont see any technical threat - yes the issues of violating rules and security measures still remain - but then whats a little bit of Jugaad if you cant streatch the limits of the rules!!