DGCA is dreaming and if they insist in this 2009 stuff and they are going to paralise their growing industry. India could have the pilots that theire airlines need, but the main responsable for the pilot shortage in India is DGCA with their STUPID convalidation process and corruption
they are hurting their industry badly; you just do not make airlines captains in 1500 hrs and if to convalidate your linceses takes you 2 years and bribes you are talking of 6 to 7 years for the new pilots to upgrade to the left seat and expat pilots are expensive. Second the airlines have to take a more proactive action in the initial training of thier future pilots with training contracts with schools abroad and quality control inspections of sush schools (USA please not JAA). Any way as long as the DGCA do not change their stupid mentality I dont see Indian airlines competing in fair terms with other airlines from Asia and the Gulf that right now are taking the big slice of the very profitable indian international market. DGCA insist in protect their ineficient govermet airline with the 5 years 20 airplanes rule and in the process they are leaving the market open for foreing airlines. SO DGCA do not push airlines for the expats pilots in theire payroll, instead take the time to loock at yourself and the politicians that rule you and do something to modernise and change your mentality that is 50 years behind your industry. Retraining of the air controlers is paramount, airlines are loosing millions each year in waisted fuel doe to stupid 10 miles separation and incompetent controlers that can not handle the trafict. By the way I´m an expat.