Indian aviation industry seeking relaxed multiple pilot licences

26 Feb 2007

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New Delhi: The civil aviation industry is asking the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) to consider a common rating for all Airbus 320-family aircraft, and also to remove the restriction on pilots of not flying more than two aircraft variants on the same day.

Around the world, industry sources point out, there is a common simulator type for all A320-family aircraft, which ensures that a pilot trained on such a simulator gets a common rating on A319s, A320s and A321s. Cockpit support instruments for all variants of a particular family, it is further pointed out, are identical. The lack of a common rating here in India obliges airlines to hire additional pilots, thus adding to manpower costs. With monthly salaries of pilots in the country averaging between Rs4 lakh and Rs4.5 lakh, it is argued, a rationalisation of regulations by the DGCA would of immense help.

The problem is compounded because some carriers are inducting different variants of the A320 family. Irrespective of carriers, the fact that a manufacturer such as Airbus, on its own, has a market share of over 70% in the country, comprising mostly of the A320 family of aircraft, ought to provide sufficient reason for a rationalisation of rules to take place.

As per estimates by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, the country's aviation industry faces an immediate shortage of 450 pilots.

The DGCA disallows pilots from operating two different kinds of aircraft on the same day for safety considerations.

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