Amarjith Padman

About Amarjith Padman

Experienced aviation leader with over 28 years in airline operations, flight dispatch, and digital transformation across leading international carriers. I’ve built and led high-performance teams across Flight Operations, Operations Control Centres (OCCs), Crew Resources, Navigation, and Technical Publications, managing units of over 175+ professionals.My journey spans from hands-on operational roles to executive leadership, culminating in leading daily dispatch of 600+ domestic and 140+ international flights to North America, Europe, the Middle East, China, and South Africa. I\'ve directed mission-critical projects including multi-airline mergers, enterprise system integrations, and the design of Integrated Operations Control Center (IOCC) for newly unified airline entities.Currently serving as Product Director, I lead cross-functional teams of software engineers, app developers, testers, and analysts to build aviation tech products that drive efficiency and insight, most notably \"RedSmart\", AirAsia’s proprietary Turnaround Management platform.My focus is on digitalizing airline operations, replacing manual workflows, and embedding data-driven decision-making into day-to-day operations. I’ve successfully led tech transformations at AirAsia India, Air India Express, and Air India, shaping a modern, connected airline infrastructure.I’m passionate about aviation safety, operational excellence, and building resilient systems and teams. I’ve served as a Safety Review Board member and Safety Officer, actively contributing to risk management, hazard analysis, and compliance across multiple AOCs.Always open to connecting with fellow aviation professionals, technologists, and transformation leaders to exchange ideas or collaborate on high-impact initiatives.SYSTEMS AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONSAircraft & Regulatory Training:• ETOPS/EDTO and RNP certification for Boeing 737, Boeing and Airbus A330/A340• ICAO Safety Management System (SMS) trained• DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations) certifiedFlight Planning Systems:• Sabre AirVision AirPlan (AirPath)• LIDO Flight Planning• Navblue Flight Planning• CAE Flight Plan ManagerOperations & Dispatch Systems:• AIMS – Crew & Ops Management• SITAONAIR – Connected Aircraft Services• SkyBreathe – Fuel Efficiency & Sustainability Platform• GE EMS – Engine Monitoring SystemOther Training:• Jeppesen Route Planner – Certified training by Jeppesen• TBEM - TATA Business Excellence framework• Executive Development Program – Indian School of Business (ISB), jointly with Boeing & Air India

Experience

1. Head-iocc Lcc at Air India Express

   Air India Express

   Feb 2024 — Present · Gurugram, IN

   Overview : Reporting COO/DFO, I lead the design, oversight, & day-to-day functioning of the IOCC - Crew Resources, OCC, & Operational Systems.My focus is on building a strategic, safety-compliant, and digitally-driven IOCC framework that enables real-time decision-making, disruption recovery, and operational resilience for LCC operations.Key Responsibilities:Spearheading development of a fully integrated IOCC, ensuring compliance with SMS and security protocols.Overseeing Crew Resources and Operations Systems in alignment with SOPs, regulatory guidelines, and governance policies.Driving improvements in flight operations, crew scheduling, aircraft utilization, and IRROPs recovery.Collaborating with cross-functional teams for seamless execution.Leading operational decisions including flight cancellations, ferry planning, and disruption management.Managing manpower planning and performance across all IOCC functions.Strategic Projects & Achievements:Successfully led merger of LCC operations with zero flight delays.Coordinated system migrations: CAE-FPM, Crew Control, Maintenance Modules, RedSmart Plus, SITAOnAir, Mission Watch.Maintained No.1 OTP ranking for AIX Connect for 5 consecutive months (Apr–Aug 2022).Managed major disruptions, including industrial unrest and system failures, ensuring operational continuity.Coordinated Ukraine evacuation flights within 48 hours, managing routing, risk assessment, and international clearances.Led RFPs and vendor evaluations for Flight Planning solutions across Tata Group airlines.Designed performance dashboards, delay KPIs, e-logbooks, and electronic checklists across IOCC.Drove digital transformation: introduced WFH model for OCC, automated eLogs, shift logs, and MET monitoring.Oversaw B737 MAX induction, including ferry planning and aerodrome/route assessments.Led Flight Dispatcher Training programs with high DGCA success rates.Unified AOG policies and reviewed SLAs for group-wide OCC operations.

Education

• University of Calicut

  B.Sc, Maths

  1993

Skills

• Team Leadership
• Microsoft Office
• Sabre
• Flight Safety
• Human Factors
• Business Analysis
• Operations Management
• Charter
• Civil Aviation
• Airlines
• Flight Planning
• Training
• Aerospace
• Aviation
• Customer Service
• Management
• Team Building
• Air Charter
• Commercial Aviation
• Team Management
• Airport Management
• Etops
• Aircraft
• Iata
• Safety Management Systems
• Airworthiness
• Business Development
• Airports
• Project Planning