Pilots fly high with soaring pay packages

With aviation circles abuzz with the news of infrastructure giant DLF hiring an ace pilot at an annual package of Rs1 crore (exclusive of all taxes), Indian pilots are set to fly high.
Captains employed by airlines, both private and public sector, now get $10,000-12,000 (Rs4-4.8 lakh) a month. But with most airlines constantly adding to their fleet, senior pilots may soon be able to name their price.
There are any number of co-pilots available within the country, but captains are in short supply. This has forced managements to loosen their purse strings. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already raised the retirement age from 60 to 65 years to cope with the shortage. The retirement age remains 58 years in most countries.
The DLF case points to another development wherein big corporate houses, with newly acquired private jets, vie with one another to rope in the best fliers.
During the past six months, at least five such pilots have changed jobs and many more are looking for greener pastures.
Moreover, foreign pilots are cashing in on the aviation boom. They command hefty pay packages.
Presently, a commercial pilot’s licence holder joining as a co-pilot gets around Rs2 lakh a month. To become a commander he needs a minimum of 2,000 hours of flying time. On an average, a pilot flies around 90 hours a month, depending on the class of airline they work with. Besides, its takes nearly two years to become eligible for the captain’s post.
01/10/07 Baljeet Parmar/Daily News & Analysis