Expat pilot numbers in India shrink by half

Mumbai: Indian civil aviation regulatory authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has said that the number of foreign pilots serving with Indian carriers had shrunk by half over the last two years. While there were 686 foreign pilots serving with Indian airlines in 2009, their numbers as of March 2011 had dwindled to 356.

India's largest carrier by passengers carried, Jet Airways, was the largest employer of foreign pilots, with 120 on its rolls as of March 2011.This compared to a figure of 192 in 2009.

The number of foreign pilots employed with charter aircraft companies had also shrunk, with the figure at 145 for 2011, as compared to 406 in 2009.

The DGCA's decision to have common medical tests for Indian and foreign pilots may be a reason for the decline in numbers. Last December, DGCA made Class I medicals--for Indian Air Force doctors at medical centres across the country--mandatory for foreign pilots as well. India's medical tests are more stringent, with a higher failure rate among pilots. Earlier, foreign pilots used to clear medical tests mandated by their country's aviation regulator.

While many foreign pilots have flunked these tests and have been declared temporarily unfit, the fear of failure has also served as a deterrent for foreign pilots seeking employment here.

Indian carriers can recruit foreign pilots just for the commander's post. Their presence however stops promotion prospects of Indian co-pilots who are eligible. In turn, that affects the recruitment prospects of a large number of commercial pilot licence (CPL) holders in the country as airlines do not show any vacancies for the co-pilot's post.