Govt extends deadline to replace expat pilots

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the deadline to phase out expatriate pilots by a year, till July 2011. The earlier deadline was to end on July 31.

“We have extended the deadline for phasing out expatriate pilots by a year till July next year. Though we have not set any month-wise deadline, but the airlines have been asked to train Indian pilots and phase the expats out during this period,” said a senior ministry official, who did not want to be identified.

There are around 400 expat pilots in the country. The numbers have come down from 650 during the same period last year. However, with airlines – especially the Low-cost carriers (LCC) – picking up over 40 aircaft over the next 17 months, there will be a need for an additional 400 senior captains for the industry. Airlines said captains (they need to fly 1,500 hours to qualify) are not available in the country.

A senior executive of an LCC said: “We will require over 100 captains, but we can get only one third of them from India – mostly retired airforce and navy officers – or poach them from other airlines that does not increase the total kitty. The rest has to come from expats. We are not crazy to pay them more and bring them, if they were available within the country.”

Airlines also said the government decision is welcome because it ensures that safety is not compromised with. An airlines chief said: “We always hire pilots with 2,500 hours to 3,000 hours of flying. This is more than the DGCA requirement. But we feel that we are more secure in giving them control. In India there are not too many pilots with this kind of experience available at the moment.”

The ministry official shared the airlines’ views. He said that phasing out all expat pilots will not be easy especially at a time when airlines are inducting new planes and new kinds of planes.

National carrier Air India, which has 125 expat pilots, will take delivery of 787 Dreamliner in the next financial year, which is a new kind of aircraft.

But the pilot unions allege neither airlines nor the government is serious about phasing out expat pilots. “It is not difficult to phase out an expat. Many airlines have their own simulators and they can train their pilots and phase the expats out. But the airlines and the government is not serious about it,” said a union representative of a full-service carrier.

“The expats are also paid around 50 per cent more in India, which is not the case anywhere in the world,” he added. 

GROUNDING THE EXPATS
* The earlier deadline, which was to end on July 31, has been extended by a year

* Airlines have been asked to train Indian pilots and phase the expats out during the period

* There are around 400 expat pilots in the country, compared to 650 during the same period last year

* With airlines picking up over 40 aircaft over the next 17 months, there will be a need for an additional 400 senior captains

* Airlines say the government decision is welcome because it ensures safety is not compromised with, but complain there is dirth of experienced pilots in the country

* Having lost the bid to modernise Mumbai and Delhi airports again.

* Air India, which has 125 expat pilots, will take delivery of 787 Dreamliner next year, which is a new kind of aircraft

(Pilot unions allege neither airlines nor the government is serious about phasing out expat pilots