Air India recruiting pilots from abroad

Kochi: Facing flak following frequent flight disruptions over the past three days, national carrier Air India said it was facing shortage of pilots and was trying to overcome the situation by recruiting them from abroad.
“It is not as if the airline did not take necessary action. But the growth of the aviation sector has been so explosive that the airline was facing shortage and was taking in expatriate pilots,” AI Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas told reporters.
Many youngsters were getting pilot training from abroad.But they can be inducted as co-pilots only as they need five to six years of flying experience. Only after that can they be appointed as commanders, Thulasidas said when asked about the drawbacks being faced by the country’s premier airline.
20/11/07 Agencies/Financial Express