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Business & Economy
Short of hands, airlines
may hire foreign pilots
What is India News Service, Monday, 21 February 2005, 2100 hrs IST
With the Indian aviation industry progressively expanding, airline companies are encountering a new problem \97 shortage of experienced pilots to operate the proposed flights. And to get over this impediment, several airlines are planning to employ foreign pilots.
Admitting the problem, the President of Air Sahara, Mr Rono Dutta, said there was a unique phenomenon in India. "Most countries have a fairly regular flow of pilots from the Air Force, but that is not the case here. In India, it is a trickle from the Air Force, not a flow. We will also have to look to get some expatriates. They will probably be for the position of commanders. We have not yet decided on the numbers. But this problem will not delay any of our plans," Mr Dutta said.
With Jet Airways and Air Sahara having been given permission to operate to London and the former also getting the nod to fly to the United States the need for trained pilots will go up.
At present there are said to be about 2,000 licensed pilots in the country, with nearly half of them being employed by the airlines operating regular flights. Most others are attached with individual companies or with airlines that offer chartered services.
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