Indian Government tells airlines not to hire foreign co-pilots
NEW DELHI: The government has asked domestic carriers not to hire foreign co-pilots as there is already a glut of Indian co-pilots, with airlines getting anywhere between 20 to 40 applications for each position.
In a meeting with airlines, the aviation ministry said it could understand that India still has a shortage of trained commanders/captains and airlines may have to hire expats. But as far as co-pilots go, airlines need to select desi ones.
At present, India has 944 foreign pilots – 810 commanders and 134 co-pilots. Airlines like Indigo, Alliance Air, Jet, Air India and Blue Dart have the maximum number of expat co-pilots. Others like SpiceJet and JetLite don’t have any foreign co-pilot, while Kingfisher and GoAir have one each.
An airline official said: ‘‘Sometimes we have to hire foreign co-pilots as they have type rating for flying a plane like the A 320 or Boeing 737. In that case, they can start flying the moment they join us.’’
On the other hand, hiring a fresh Indian co-pilot means that airlines have to first get a type rating for the aircraft they will have to operate. This means sending commercial pilot licence holders abroad for training on simulator of planes like an A-320 or Boeing 737, something that takes a few months and costs anywhere up to Rs 7 lakh.
A fresh CPL holder can join an airline as co-pilot and then get type-rating (training to fly a certain aircraft). Once a type-rated pilot flies for between 1,500 and 2,500 hours, he or she becomes a commander/captain. At each level, the salary jumps from – Rs 60,000-80,000; Rs 1-1.5 lakh and Rs 2-2.5 lakh.
Now government is not willing to buy lack of trained pilots excuse of airlines to hire expats. In fact, Monday’s diktat of not disregarding Indian co-pilots is the second move in as many months to protect Indian students who spend anywhere upto Rs 22 lakh – almost everyone takes an education loan for this – to become a pilot.
source: The Times of India
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godfather said,
Wrote on March 14, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
Very Good decision taken by the Government.I am all for it.This step will ease the situation of sudden flooding of the market with jobless Indian co-pilots.
Murad said,
Wrote on March 28, 2008 @ 3:15 am
good job !!!! why Expats when we have our own batch of pilot waiting in the que for the job as a matter of fact its a serious matter and should not be overlooked …… Bravo
Rajveer Singh said,
Wrote on June 22, 2008 @ 12:47 am
Great effort….It will bring happiness to many faces..
But y not make an effort to make our training procedure job oriented or backed by airline industry..So that airlines can keep an eye on better pilots and can be taken away by them just after they complete there minimum requirement just like placements while studying in other sectors or studies like MBA, Engg etc,.
RITESH SINHA said,
Wrote on July 6, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
An excellent decision by Govt.. India produces highly trained pilots from flying school like Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi. Airlines should give them job first. If pilots from such institutes remains jobless then its a loss to national economy as pilots there get subsidies as high as 15 lakh even after spending 20 lakh.
m.a. khan said,
Wrote on January 15, 2009 @ 6:32 pm
Sir,
before one year when there was a boomoing in aviation field.i sent my daughter to usa for cpl. now she is busy in convergion of her faa cpl to indian cpl.
i have took a education loan for this purpose and am in deep concern over this matter .i dont know how i can pay the installments to bank ?such a huge amount is out of my reach.
if government will not take any favourable steps for available indians cpl holders at present .this may be a big problem to peoples like me.
we may hope only…..otherwise what may happen…. could not say….? -m. a. khan bhopal m.p.
Zed said,
Wrote on January 19, 2009 @ 9:39 pm
There is one saying that needs to be understood that what is needed to get a job is hours and hours. If you have 250 hours and thinking of landing as a co-pilot, then you must be unaware of what is the required standards. It was just the fake boom and its over, now pay back your loans!
Sources- I am kiwi pilot, with about 750 hours and you know what i am not mad about joining an airlines cause i know i am not that qualified. Once i hit 1000hours, i will surely do so, and will be readily accepted. Till then, i am happy flying my Cirrus- C 60 ferrying tourists.
vishnu said,
Wrote on January 21, 2009 @ 12:31 am
absolutely
these airliners just need an excuse
foreign countries dont even allow indian trainees
or even a copilot with less hours
train the locals they r cheap to pay in comparison
though u have to invest in training
magician191 said,
Wrote on February 7, 2009 @ 12:14 am
now some airlines like paramount, King Fisher have started exploiting the situation by hiring excess trainee pilots and charging them the training cost of 25lakhs, and on completion of training ,as a first officer they will only receive salary one sixth of expat co-pilots……………why this discrimination of Indian companies against pilots.