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PAY REVISION FOR INDIAN PILOTS
Indian pilots can get a job with foreign airlines. The market is wide open. The salaries offered are in the region of $10,000 per month. This is tax free.
Airlines in India hire Expats. They are required to pay similar salaries to expats so that they can meet their flight crew requirement. So an expat draws $10000+ per month in India, with a commuting contract (6 weeks on 2 weeks off or even 10 weeks on and 4 weeks off), enjoys accommodation provided by the company, and his taxes are paid by the company. The Expat thus costs more than $16000 per month to the company. And he has 4 months holiday every year as compared to 30 to 45 days of leave applicable for an Indian Pilot. Moreover, whatever happens, he marches off after 70 days and emerges back after 28 days. The Indian pilot, on the other hand, has to get his leave pre approved which is a difficult task because of shortage of pilots.
Why are the salaries of Indian pilots then still low? Are the airlines not paying Indian pilots at par with the expats just because the Indian Pilots want to remain in India? Are not Indian pilots keeping a full year on / 11 weeks on 2 weeks off work schedule? Are the concepts of equal pay for equal work not applicable here?
With our economy on the upswing and the aviation industry also growing rapidly, it is necessary that pilots, who are highly skilled people, are retained in India. If Indian pilots were to work abroad and foreigners were to work in India, then it will be a loss to the Indian Aviation Industry as a whole. This fact does not require much elaboration.
Therefore, I think that the pilots in India must request for an enhancement in salary. Alternatively, the employers must consider revising the salary structure of the pilots themselves.
Following structure seems logical:
Basic gross of Rs 500000/- for a Captain with 1000 hrs experience. Rs 25000/- increase in basic gross for every slab increase of 1000 hrs, ie a Captain of 2000 and 3000 hrs experience respectively should get a basic gross of Rs 525000 and Rs 550000 respectively.
An annual inflation linked increase. The salary hike should be linked to the rise in WPI (whole sale price index)
An annual increment of Rs 10000/- per year. This is over and above the WPI linked pay rise.
Overtime of actual flying beyond 70 hrs Flight Time @ Rs 4500/- per hour and @ Rs 5000 beyond 80 hours.
The Airlines should also offer career upgrades to the pilots. The Airlines should be obliged to maintain a strength of 30% of its pilot population as trainers out of which 50% should be TRI/TRE. This strength is allowed by the DGCA. Such numbers will also help rapid growth of Indian Aviation industry which is the need of the hour. An assured career progression will also keep the pilots motivated to serve in the motherland instead of serving a foreign airline.
The salary rates for check pilot, instructor and examiner should be Rs 75,000, Rs 100000/- and Rs 150000/- respectively. These amounts seem large but when converted to dollars and when compared to the salaries of expat TRI/TRE, these are very conservative.
Is this wishful thinking?
No it isn’t.
I think that the employers are reasonable and wise people. I am sure they will realise the lack of logic and the lack of reason behind the lower salary of Indian Pilot vis a vis the Expat pilot.
Any employer will rather pay an Indian pilot 20% less than what he is required to pay an expat. The proposed salaries are still 20 to 25 % lower than the expat salaries.
And what if the employer does not does not agree for a pay rise?
Quit and enjoy life while working in Singapore / Sri Lanka / Vietnam / Korea / Malaysia / China / Middle East / Africa and treat life as a one big holiday!!!! In turn allow the Singaporeans, Koreans, Vietnamese, Malaysians, Chinese etc to have a holiday in India!!!
You have the option. The “market forces” have conspired to keep your salary less competitive. Now there is a shortage and the “market forces” have taken a turn to your benefit. Leverage your advantage and make your pay more logical!!!