Pilot shortage delaying expansion plans

New Delhi: DGCA had recently disallowed several foreign pilots from flying in India due to their poor understanding of English.
The ministry approved the change in rules after DGCA examined all issues and then recommended — with strict conditions attached — that expat pilots can operate domestic flights. Coupled with choked airport infrastructure, shortage of pilots has reportedly forced some airlines to defer plans for inducting more aircraft in their fleet.
An airline official said the relaxation in rule may help tide over shortage of pilot for some time.
“As of now, about 5,000 aspirant commercial pilots are waiting for the Class I preliminary medical test. Given this figure, we should have a comfortable number in the next two to three years. We need Indian pilots as getting the right foreign ones is becoming increasingly difficult. For instance, there are hardly any expat ATR pilot,” he said.
18/07/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India