Pilots make return sortie to India

Delhi/Chandigarh: Thanks to the boom in the aviation industry and dearth of employees, many CPL (commercial pilot license) holders and aircraft engineers who migrated in search of greener pastures are now returning to their motherland, where they are getting a red carpet welcome by Indian companies.
According to sources, while Emirates pays around Rs 3 lakh per month to a pilot, Indian carriers pay anywhere between Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per month.
Canada, Australia, US, Singapore and the Gulf countries are some places from where NRI pilots are returning. Air India’s deputy general manager, training operations, Harpreet A De Singh says, “In India, the age of retirement for pilots is 65 unlike many countries where it is 60.
“As salaries are at par with the global standards, it is a better option for them to work in their own country where they have strong cultural ties,” said Surajit Banerjee, VP (HR), SpiceJet, that has recruited a couple of NRI pilots.
Apart from pilots, there are also engineers and technicians who are coming back. Moreover for employees it’s reunion with their relatives in the homeland,” says Kaul. The trend is quite strong, at present, as the demand is outstripping supply.
But, with consolidations in the sky and number of aircraft orders dipping, NRI and expats might not get the red carpet welcome they are getting today. “This trend may not continue for long as the gap between demand and supply is reducing,” says Ranganathan. But for now at least it’s a sweet home-coming for many Indians.
29/06/07 Vishakha Talreja & Maheswaran Parameswaran/Economic Times