Lok Sabha Question No. 3712 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-23
Subject: Pilot Training in the Country
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3712

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  23rd March 2023 )

## PILOT TRAINING IN THE COUNTRY

3712.    SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that there is a shortage of commanders on certain types of aircraft and the same is being managed by utilising foreign  pilots  by  issuing  Foreign  Aircrew  Temporary  Authorization (FATA) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether 296 pilots were recruited against 862 commercial pilot licences issued in 2021 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any estimate study has been undertaken to assess the requirement of pilots in the country for the upcoming years and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the existing number of Indian nationals and foreign nationals employed in the airport industry in the country; and
- (e) whether any special programmes are being run by the Government to  encourage  pilot  training  especially  for  women  and backward classes including SCs/STs and if so, the details thereof, categorywise?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of (GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

CIVIL  AVIATION

- (a) Yes, Madam. Currently, there are 67 Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization  (FATA)  holders  in  India.  List  of  operator-wise  FATA holders is at Annexure.;

(b)  As  per  data  received  from  various  Indian  scheduled  airlines,  a total of 244 pilots have been recruited in the year 2021. (c) As per Industry projections there may be a need for 1000 pilots per annum in India over the next five years.The annual requirement of commercial pilots depend upon various factors such as financial health  of  an  airline,  airline  expansion  plan  and  growth  in  the aviation sector. (d) As on 01.03.2023, a total of 15,896 regular officials are employed in Airports Authority of India (AAI) posted across various airports/stations. All AAI employees are Indian nationals.; ; As  per  Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA),  there  are approximately 10,000 pilots including 67 foreign nationals employed with various airlines of India. (e)  There  are  35  DGCA  approved  FTOs  in  India  operating  at  53 bases. Currently,  there  is  no  special  programme  in  the  Government  to encourage pilot training for women and backward classes including SCs/STs.; However  15%  of  pilots  in  India  are  women  which  is  almost  three times the global average of 5%.

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ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE  IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NUMBER NUMBER 3712 FOR 23.03.2023

| Operator               | Type of Aircraft   |   NO. OF FATA EMPLOYED |
|------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|
| INDIGO                 | ATR-72-600         |                     04 |
| ALLIANCE AIR           | ATR-72-600         |                     15 |
| VISTARA                | B - 787            |                     01 |
| HIMALAYAN HELI         | AS-350 B3          |                     01 |
| BIG CHARTERS           | ATR-72-500         |                     08 |
| DHILLON AVIATION       | BELL 206 L4        |                     03 |
| ZOOM AIR               | CRJ 200            |                     01 |
| STAR AIR               | EMB 145 LR         |                     05 |
| MYTRI AVIATION         | EMBRAER 195        |                     01 |
| AIR CHARTER            | FALCON 7X          |                     02 |
| SKY ONE                | Ml 172             |                     02 |
| INDO PACIFIC           | BD-700             |                     01 |
| THEIRVENI EARTH MOVERS | PILATUS PC12       |                     01 |
| GLOBAL VECTRA          | AS350              |                     03 |
| PINNACLE               | BELL 407           |                     02 |
| OSS MANAGEMENT         | AUGUSTA-109-C      |                     01 |
| VSR                    | LEARJET 45         |                     02 |
| E-FACTOR               | HOT AIR BALLON     |                     03 |
| ARROW AIRCRAFT         | AS350B3            |                     02 |
| RELIANCE COMMERICAL    | G7500              |                     03 |
| MAHINDRA               | LR60XR             |                     01 |
| THUMBY AVIATION        | AS350B3E           |                     01 |
| IRM                    | G-550              |                     04 |
| TOTAL                  |                    |                     67 |

Source:- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

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