NG Driver
13th Jan 2008, 02:43
Thought I'd start one for articles in the Indian media. Here's one I saw this morning in the Times of India;
TIMES OF INDIA
DGCA stipulates 3 sets of crew for each plane
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NEW DELHI: In a move to pave the way for desi pilots, Indian carriers will now be able to hire foreign pilots only by submitting a phasing out plan for them, as also making clear the induction and training plans for Indian fliers.
DGCA norms stipulate that there should be three sets of crew (a pilot and co-pilot) for each aeroplane but scheduled Indian carriers keep five sets. With India having 312 planes, the total current strength required is about 3,120.
"Of the 3,120 pilots required, 804 are foreigners. Some airlines face a shortage because they hire commercial pilot licence holders but don’t train them for several months, making them captive fliers," said a senior official.
The unforeseen aviation boom of past three years caught the country unaware and airlines had to hire trained expats. On their part, airlines say they would hire Indian pilots depending on the availability.
"DGCA has issued a circular on the issue, asking all airlines' their plan for phasing out expat pilots. We will employ as many Indian pilots as available. But given the growth projections, airlines may not be able to have just Indian fliers," said Kingfisher's executive vice president Hitesh Patel.
SpiceJet's executive chairman Siddhantha Sharma said a number of Indians were working as first officers and would be upgraded to captain’s post as and when they get the required experience.
"The requirement of expat pilots will be determined by fleet size also. If growth remains high, then it will not be possible to send all of them back," he said. Foreign pilots are allowed to fly in India under the "foreign air crew temporary authorization (FATA)" given by the DGCA. This is initially a two-year permission to fly here, a period that can be extended later.
DGCA's swadeshi flight comes at a time when the US has also relaxed its upper age limit for flyers. Following the Indian rules, it has also allowed a pilot to fly till the age of 65 but subject to the condition that one of the two pilots in the cockpit is below 60. This move, said industry sources, could either stem the flow of old pilots from US and even see some of them flying in India returning home.
The Indian versus foreign pilot debate has started hotting up here. A leading private airline's association of Indian pilots recently did a poll and a majority of the fliers said they were discriminated against their foreign counterparts. Thanks to a weak Dollar, airlines find it economical to hire foreign pilots now.
"Apart from the exit plan, the government should also relax the norms for an instructor or examiner when he or she is made to fly bigger planes. For instance someone who is an instructor on a Boeing 737 is trained for a 777, he or she should be made an instructor for the bigger aircraft faster. The number of Indian instructors/examiners must grow simultaneously if the DGCA's exit plan has to be successful," said a pilo
TIMES OF INDIA
DGCA stipulates 3 sets of crew for each plane
\
NEW DELHI: In a move to pave the way for desi pilots, Indian carriers will now be able to hire foreign pilots only by submitting a phasing out plan for them, as also making clear the induction and training plans for Indian fliers.
DGCA norms stipulate that there should be three sets of crew (a pilot and co-pilot) for each aeroplane but scheduled Indian carriers keep five sets. With India having 312 planes, the total current strength required is about 3,120.
"Of the 3,120 pilots required, 804 are foreigners. Some airlines face a shortage because they hire commercial pilot licence holders but don’t train them for several months, making them captive fliers," said a senior official.
The unforeseen aviation boom of past three years caught the country unaware and airlines had to hire trained expats. On their part, airlines say they would hire Indian pilots depending on the availability.
"DGCA has issued a circular on the issue, asking all airlines' their plan for phasing out expat pilots. We will employ as many Indian pilots as available. But given the growth projections, airlines may not be able to have just Indian fliers," said Kingfisher's executive vice president Hitesh Patel.
SpiceJet's executive chairman Siddhantha Sharma said a number of Indians were working as first officers and would be upgraded to captain’s post as and when they get the required experience.
"The requirement of expat pilots will be determined by fleet size also. If growth remains high, then it will not be possible to send all of them back," he said. Foreign pilots are allowed to fly in India under the "foreign air crew temporary authorization (FATA)" given by the DGCA. This is initially a two-year permission to fly here, a period that can be extended later.
DGCA's swadeshi flight comes at a time when the US has also relaxed its upper age limit for flyers. Following the Indian rules, it has also allowed a pilot to fly till the age of 65 but subject to the condition that one of the two pilots in the cockpit is below 60. This move, said industry sources, could either stem the flow of old pilots from US and even see some of them flying in India returning home.
The Indian versus foreign pilot debate has started hotting up here. A leading private airline's association of Indian pilots recently did a poll and a majority of the fliers said they were discriminated against their foreign counterparts. Thanks to a weak Dollar, airlines find it economical to hire foreign pilots now.
"Apart from the exit plan, the government should also relax the norms for an instructor or examiner when he or she is made to fly bigger planes. For instance someone who is an instructor on a Boeing 737 is trained for a 777, he or she should be made an instructor for the bigger aircraft faster. The number of Indian instructors/examiners must grow simultaneously if the DGCA's exit plan has to be successful," said a pilo