Pilot shortage hits Sri Lankan
 

Looks like enough guys have left for better jobs to cause cancellations.

News article http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2006/2/5776.html

This is good news for us all wherever we work. The only thing "they" care about is cancelled flights. I hope to read many more similar articles. It is the only way we will all then get better pay and conditions.

"Among some of the senior pilots to leave was captain Ramesh Jayasinghe who left after citing reasons of harassment. Mr. Jayasinghe with 15 years of experience was an instructor as well."

If true they get what they deserve then!

Good to see , just wait until China and India effect the demand for experienced flight crew like what they have done for oil... finally some respect ? Well at least a bit more dosh perhaps ?

Sri Lankan News Article
 

Yes, I too have seen some articles floating around. The one that I came across was from AOL Top News just today.
It reads:
Updated:2006-02-28 02:50:02
Exodus of pilots leaves SriLankan Airlines flights grounded
AP
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka's national carrier has been forced to cancel some flights and reschedule others after 10 percent of its pilots quit over the past three months to join other airlines offering better salaries,officials said on Tuesday.
Two SriLankan Airlines London-bound flights were canceled over the last few days and many others were delayed after the departure of 30 experienced pilots out of the airline's total roster of 300, the carrier's head of corporate management, Chandana de Silva, said.
Passengers of canceled flights had been rerouted on other airlines, causing "a couple million" in financial losses, he said.
"But we have taken a lot of measures and the situation is now returning to normalcy," de Silva added, but said more problems could occur if any of the remaining pilots should fail to report to work.
"We have launched a recruitment drive for pilots and we will be able to resolve this problem," de Silva said.
A SriLankan Airlines pilot said on condition of anonymity that many of those who recently quit were among the most experienced pilots.
The monthly salary of a SriLankan Airlines pilot is about 1 million rupees (US$10,000; 8,240), while some airlines elsewhere in Asia and the Middle-East offer monthly pay three times that amount, he said.

" while some airlines elsewhere in Asia and the Middle-East offer monthly pay three times that amount, he said.''

Were??? 30,000USD a month?????

Monthly salary at Sri Lankan is US$6110, this includes an accomodation allowance of US$750.

There are a few add ons but only two or three hundred hundred dollars a month at most.

Sri Lankan Shortage
 

Hi FullForward:

I am not sure the answer to your question as I just copy and pasted the news article I came across on AOL Top News and that was what Mr. de Silva had said in the article. I think that that salary for the month is for local pilots, not expats. I am sure that there is someone out there that would know more who flies for Sri Lankan or used to.

I had just noticed the earlier article that someone had put a link to and I too had come across another similar article.

pf:O