View Full Version : Flying in India
ForzaLazio
18th Sep 2006, 16:49
Hello guys,
I heard from few people about the opportunity now for foreign pilots to go to work in India. High pay and housing provided by the company. Anybody heard about it? If so, which one is the airline? Thank you much!
outofsynch
19th Sep 2006, 08:19
Think it could be kingfisher Airlines or Jet airways.
Willit Run
19th Sep 2006, 15:33
See the ad right above your posting?? Contact them!
IRISHPILOT
19th Sep 2006, 15:50
Buon Giorno, FL.
Jet and Air India Express for you, but unfortunately not with your experience. If you are doing the FAA 737 200/300 rating (not NG), this will not be acceptable. Also, they will want 500 hours on type. If you still have the B1900 job, you'd better stay a little longer, many companies have a minimum of TT2000.
And then the pay will be good but not very good. - I have heard something like USD5000 before tax. With an Indian background, you would be able to go to them directly and not through an agency, in which case you wouldn't need the 500 on type, but still, rating wouldn't do.
sorry not to be more positive, but most jobs through agencies require hours on type nowadays.
cheers, IP
vgk1945
21st Sep 2006, 01:50
Hello,
India has a huge demand for pilots. The forecast for demand for pilots in the next three years equals the total number of pilots produced in India in the last 50 years. There are hardly any well functioning flying schols to churn out pilots. Look at the sort of orders that airlines have placed:-
Air India - 68 (Boeing variants)
Air Deccan - 21 (ATR + AIrbus) plus many more to be leased
Indigoi - 100 (Airbus 320)
Indian Airlines - 43 (Airbus variants)
Jet Airways - 26 (Boeing+Airbus)
Air Sahara - 10 (Boeings)
Kingfisher - 87 (Airbus+ATR)
Spicejet 8 (Boeing)
GOAir - 20 (Airbus)
New airlines like Jagsons, Palace in the Sky, MDLR etc are in the offing and many more to follow.
Cheers
vgk
Bangalore
ForzaLazio
23rd Sep 2006, 03:16
well, thank everyone for replying. Irish, I currently have 1900 hrs, so I am not too far from the 2k mark. I am hoping that the 737 tr and the FAA atp license will do it. if they really need all those pilots, maybe i'll get lucky!
vgk1945
25th Sep 2006, 10:43
India needs about three thousand pilots in the next five years. Our flying clubs will nopt be able to produce even 1/5th of that number. There is lack of aircraft and a shortage of Chief Flying Instructors. Most of the CFIs have left for the greener pastures of airlines. So a whole lot of flying clubs are at total 'freeze'. Some flying clubs are flying indigenous 'Pushpak' trainer which is over 50 years old.
Keep applying to various airlines. My guess is that even if you have about 1000 hours, shortly you will be welcomed into India for along tenure.
Cheers
vgk1945
ForzaLazio
26th Sep 2006, 03:44
I'll try! I really hope it will work out!
mellowflyer
3rd Oct 2006, 22:16
How about CRJs? I currently fly left seat in 200's in Mexico, got an FAA's ATP, 12000 hours, 8000 flying DC9'ers, 8 years as captain
ForzaLazio
3rd Oct 2006, 22:19
i would try, worst they can say is no
B737NG
5th Oct 2006, 00:33
Let it grow a while and then have a look, there are some changes needed within a certain wellknown Indian operator who hired a brick recently and then it should be back on track there. As long as he is there I would refrain to send a application to 9W...
As long as you fly now where you are your total hours will grow and your chance is maybe better later... Why? because the seats are not filled yet and the demand/supply chain is shorter so the bar will be lowered and you end up in exceeding it why by today you been told you wont make it. Strange Industry but the past showed me that often.
Fly safe and land happy
NG
I'm ATR rated with 1000 hours plus total time. I have recently applied to Jet Airways through 2 different avenues and heard nothing, has anyone else heard from Jet or do they not have the appropriate authority to emply expatriot FO's yet.
cheers
MJR
CaptBlowOut
11th Oct 2006, 15:58
At the moment Jet Airways apparently isnt the best place to be... I was told they promise everything and when you are there they start taking it all back. At the moment there is a dispute about accomodation, the guys are put up in 5 star hotel appartments, as per contract, but the company has told them to move to a 3 star junk hotel by the end of the month !!!! Same thing with annual leave and time off....... Better check up on these things before you guys pack up the toothbrush
broottmeenoo
12th Oct 2006, 11:30
Well guys, don't get too excited...you ought to do some research yourself before asking at random to wannabees and the like...
India do not accept expats SIC, it's that simple...:=
Asked Parc, Richworth and the like, they will all tell you the same: PIC only...
Now, you may end up in the right seat with 500hrs on type, but then you are qualified as a captain, and the ship will be flown by 2 captains.
And your total time may be 3000, 5000hrs...nobody cares about total time, it's time on type which counts.
Again, I am putting this for expats.
For locals, it's a whole different ballgame.:)
broottmeenoo
Not denying what you say, but why are the advertising in Flight every week for FO's on a number of different types?
cheers
MJR
hpcock
12th Oct 2006, 14:04
MJR
Rightly, you have been spotting jobs in Flight on a weekly basis for FO's based in India - but all is not what it seems.
I am a British (born) citizen with a JAA licence, but also quailfy to fly in India due to my Indian roots.
However, the picture being painted for expats has been somewhat clouded by a number of opinions - some right, others wrong. At present, the only expats being hired are those with a min of 500hrs, on type, from the left hand seat.
About 3 months ago, I was in a meeting with the a gentleman called Mr. A K Saran - Head of Licencing at DGCA. He categorically stated that the DGCA has no plans for the forseeable short term to introduce a scheme to allow Expat FO's into India, due to the overwhelming number of newly qualified Indian FO's in the pipeline. To give you an example, at the last exam sittings in DEL & BOM alone over 2500 candidates turned up to sit the CPL/ATPL examinations! There is currently a practice enforced within the Indian flightdeck that states, at least 50% of the flightcrew must be Indian or of Indian origin. However, an Indian operator is now rostering some of its a/c for the first time with an all foreign crew. This had been kept on the QT by the DGCA, who allowed this particular operator to fill the void it was experiencing on a particular type of a/c in its fleet. Needless to say, word has now become public, & the likes of Flight are filling their boots, by telling you there are plenty of jobs available for you.
The reality of the matter is that if you arrive in India with a foreign passport, 500 hrs PIC on type, you still have to go through an Air Regulations examination, Class 1 medical, & the dreaded security clearance. Factor in approx 1-2 months for the latter alone.
To clarify the points made by "CaptBlowOut" - perhaps Jet is not the best option at the moment. A number of senior heads have stepped down from their posts recently, & have been filled by a couple of guys from Ethiad - who are not getting rave reviews on their man management skills. About the accomodation - most (expat) pilots with Jet I have spoken to in the last few days are not aware of this downgrading, & continue to enjoy life in either 5* hotels or excellent apartments.
Following up on the point made by "IRISHPILOT" - the pay is significantly greater than $US5000 (gross). There are a number of regular expat Capt's taking home a salary in the region of $US10-12,000 (net) - approx GBP6000.
In closing, I would follow the line set down by "VGK1945" & apply to agencies & airlines in India as the expat FO flood gates are going to open very soon.
Sorry to go on for so long - but I hope my coments clear up some of the questions raised on this topic.
Good luck to all
HPC
charger
12th Oct 2006, 14:11
Hi Guys!
Sorry a bit off topic, but how is living in Mumbai an Bangalore (kingfisher bases). I've never been there so I have no clue...
cheers
From CaptBlowOut:
"Jet Airways
At the moment Jet Airways apparently isnt the best place to be... I was told they promise everything and when you are there they start taking it all back. At the moment there is a dispute about accomodation, the guys are put up in 5 star hotel appartments, as per contract, but the company has told them to move to a 3 star junk hotel by the end of the month !!!! Same thing with annual leave and time off....... Better check up on these things before you guys pack up the toothbrush"
MJR
To clarify the points made by "CaptBlowOut" - perhaps Jet is not the best option at the moment. A number of senior heads have stepped down from their posts recently, & have been filled by a couple of guys from Ethiad - who are not getting rave reviews on their man management skills. About the accomodation - most (expat) pilots with Jet I have spoken to in the last few days are not aware of this downgrading, & continue to enjoy life in either 5* hotels or excellent apartments.
HPC
Are these developments a direct result of the 2 Ethiad guys? Are the original accommodations clearly written in the contracts? Is there anyone here from Jet who can speculate on the probable outfall from this - large scale resignations for instance. From a 5* hotel or apartment to a 3* hovel is quite a hit.
What's to prevent expats, en mass, from departing on their next leave and not returning (I believe it's 8weeks on 2 weeks off).
I had seen complaints in other posts from the Middle East Forum, where it was reported that not only would the company not live up to the commitments made verbally but blatantly violated written contractual agreements - oddly - I believe the post dealt with Ethiad - where these two individuals came from.
I was giving serious thought to going to India - but if they are disregarding the contract - think I'll stay home. If they can do this - what's to prevent them from cutting the pay and saying "sue me."
Would appreciate any further confirmation on this specific development at Jet especially from someone who is actually experiencing it - or who did experience it and has decided to leave.
Thanks for any information,
LL
hpcock
12th Oct 2006, 17:35
"I was giving serious thought to going to India - but if they are disregarding the contract - think I'll stay home. If they can do this - what's to prevent them from cutting the pay and saying "sue me."
A very poignant statement that needs to be raised when dealing in India.
On the whole, dealings in India tend to be a bit more "Gentlemanly" than those described above, however, should this situation arise, one could find themselves in a legal trifle for the next few years.
There is currently a case running along the lines of the abovementioned scenario - I will not name the airline for ethical reasons - who more or less shafted an expat pilot, who took them to court & will probably have to sweat it out for the next 5-10 yrs before his case even comes to the bench!!
When in India, get it in writing & you'll be OK.
broottmeenoo
12th Oct 2006, 17:45
broottmeenoo
Not denying what you say, but why are the advertising in Flight every week for FO's on a number of different types?
cheers
MJR
For the obvious reason that they need FOs... :hmm:
Do you think advertising in Flight is only for non-Indians...
There are pilots of Indian origins all over the world, Canada, Middle East, USA etc...the ads are targeting them...plain and simple:zzz:
airbuspilot69
15th Oct 2006, 14:23
Hello guys,
I heard from few people about the opportunity now for foreign pilots to go to work in India. High pay and housing provided by the company. Anybody heard about it? If so, which one is the airline? Thank you much!
yeah u bet!! i am a pilot with an indian airlie. Try applying to kingfisher, goair & indigo, spicejet. howz 10000 for a captain buddy??/
Kraut
15th Oct 2006, 15:20
. howz 10000 for a captain buddy??/
US-Dollar? Euros? 10000 Blockhours in 10 Years?:)
A few days ago it was posted that, regarding Jet Airways, they we’re reneging on contractual agreements reference accommodations, annual leave and time off. Has this been established as fact or is it in the rumor stage? Are they actually unilaterally changing a written contract? If it’s true – how are the pilots taking it?
Thanks for any information. I’ve heard such great things about Jet Airways in the past that this seems like a complete turn about.
LL
I have been applying to several airlines in India for the last 6-8 months, eventhough I'm just a college student and a flight instructor with low flight time. I finally recieved an e-mail from Air deccan Chief Pilot few weeks ago stating that
"At the outset thank you for sending your CV to us. However, we still are
waiting for approval to hire foreign co-pilots. Once the approval is
available we will get back to you".
I thought Indian carriers got approved by the government to hire first officers,,,:ugh: I'm confused.
I still haven't heard anything yet and I have been trying to call them, but no luck so far.:bored: I'm planing to send my CV again when I break the 1000 hours.
Good luck guys
enjoy your time flying in India.
Freight-Dog
5th Nov 2006, 03:05
Can you please find the source for this info
I have about 3000 tt
1200 multi but none in jets ,can i apply for a F.O position there
Thanks
RMP2
Thanks for informing us what is going on in India. Also congratulation for your new job :ok:. I guess I need a type rating or build 500 hours multi time. I will PM you later.
Good luck
cheduve
9th Nov 2006, 16:50
1.Direct entry left seat requieres 500 PIC on type.
2. I saw the new directive as 2 days ago and DGCA has just aprooved of FO expats, CPL and 3 current on type.
Don't know yet when companies will start hiring but get back to me in a couple of weeks and I'll let you know.
There are all kind in every country and here in India is no different, it all depends on how your contract is written.
So far I had no trouble, but always on the lookout,
Contact me if you have any more specific questions.
Cheduve
jet777
12th Nov 2006, 13:14
A few days ago it was posted that, regarding Jet Airways, they we’re reneging on contractual agreements reference accommodations, annual leave and time off. Has this been established as fact or is it in the rumor stage? Are they actually unilaterally changing a written contract? If it’s true – how are the pilots taking it?
Thanks for any information. I’ve heard such great things about Jet Airways in the past that this seems like a complete turn about.
LL
From CaptBlowOut:
"Jet Airways
At the moment Jet Airways apparently isnt the best place to be... I was told they promise everything and when you are there they start taking it all back. At the moment there is a dispute about accomodation, the guys are put up in 5 star hotel appartments, as per contract, but the company has told them to move to a 3 star junk hotel by the end of the month !!!! Same thing with annual leave and time off....... Better check up on these things before you guys pack up the toothbrush"
In my opinion these are all baseless rumours. I know many Expat pilots working at Jet and havent heard of any ad hoc / unilateral changes being made to their contracts. And at no point have the pilots been made to move to 3 star JUNK accomodation. Yes all airlines have their petty issues of rostering etc but I havent heard any serious issues abt Jet / T & C of the expats.