Originally Posted by
Nevrekar
Your pay package will be significantly higher if you go as an expat, rather than as a local. The OCI is not "dual citizenship." It is similar to the "green card" in the USA, giving you certain privileges based on Indian heritage. Besides as long as you go as an expat, you don't need to convert your licenses. The only advantage to going the "local" route if you hold a foreign passport is if you are low time or don't have the PIC time the airline is seeking. India does not hire expat F/O's, the last I heard.
Not all of what you write is strictly true.
Firstly, if I may bring your attention to a press release issued by the Press Info Bureau of India, dated 02-12-2005. It states: "....Based on Indian Diaspora, the Govt of India decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) more commonly known as Dual Citizenship. This Dual Citizenship is granted as long as their home countires allow dual citizenship in any form under their local laws."
You also state that expats do not need to convert their licences. This is also not strictly true, as anyone without an Indian licence will have to conform to an Indian examination in some form. It all depends on what licence you hold. Eg. If you hold an FAA CPL, you will need to do the conversion exams, along with a small seres of flight tests. Unless you are endorsed with the requisite TR on your licence and approx 500 hrs on type, you are doing the DGCA Exams.
Hope this helps
HPC