Airlines on a pilot recruitment overdrive

Airlines in the country are on a hiring spree. With low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet adding aircraft every month, the demand for trained pilots has gone up. IndiGo, which is set to launch its international operations from Thursday, has indicated it would require nearly 300 extra pilots by end of 2012.

Currently, IndiGo has 43 planes, and will be adding 20 more by December 2012. “Recruitment is on in a big way. The operations department is monitoring pilots’ availability, training and recruitment each week,” said an airline source.

SpiceJet, which took the delivery of its first Bombardier Q400 craft last week, has hired 15 expatriate pilots to operate this type of aircraft. Jet Airways is hiring first officers for Boeing 737s and ATR planes. Jet held entrance exams in February, and is now holding group discussions to shortlist candidates. Even Dubai-based Emirates Airlines is conducting recruitment drive here next week.

As a rule, each aircraft requires five-six sets of pilots. An airline needs to have sufficient crew to keep an aircraft operational throughout the month. The requirement is prepared considering pilot training, leave, off duties, etc. According to norms of the Director General of Civil Aviation, pilots can’t fly for more than 125 hours/month. “On an average, IndiGo pilots fly for 70 hours/month, but at times this stretches to 80 hours,” a source said.

SpiceJet chief commercial officer Samyukth Sridharan said the company has placed firm orders for 15 Bombardier Q400s. “These will be delivered till next June,” he said. The airline will use this aircraft to connect cities and towns in South India beginning September 21. Apart from recruiting 15 foreign pilots, the airline has deputed an equal number of Indian commanders from its Boeing 737 to train on the turboprop plane.

“No other Indian airline has flown the Q400,” a source said. “Hence there are no Indian pilots who have the required experience and rating on this aircraft. Indian pilots are being trained in Canada.”

Sridharan added that SpiceJet had sufficient pilots for first 7-8 Q400s. “There is no issue about it. For the rest we are recruiting,” he added.