Lok Sabha Question No. 573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-28
Subject: Strength of Pilots
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 573

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  28th November 2024 )

## STRENGTH OF PILOTS

573.    SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether the airline regulatory body has released the latest statistics on strength of pilots in the country and if so, the details hereof;
- (b)  whether  it  is  true  that  15  percent  of  the  pilots  in  the  country  are women which is three times of the global average of 5 percent and if so, the details thereof
- (c) the details of total number of pilots including foreign nationals working with  various  domestic  airlines  in  the  country  along  with  the  number  of women amongst them;
- (d) whether it is true that there is a fast pace of growth in civil aviation industry in the country which would require substantial number of pilots during the next five years;
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to recruit more pilots in this regard; and
- (f)  whether the Government proposes to initiate a special programme to encourage pilot training for women from all sections of the society and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister  of  State  in  the  Ministry  of  CIVIL  AVIATION            (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) Such statistics on strength of pilots in the country are not released by Directorate General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA).  However,  a  total  of  11,775 pilots are employed by major airlines and there are total number of 26,539 licensed pilots (ATPL/CPL/PPL) in India.;

;

(b)15 percent of pilots in the country are women. The detail on number of women pilots is at Annexure I.;

; (c)    The  details  of  total  number  of  pilots  including  foreign  nationals  and women  working  with  various  domestic  airlines  in  the  country  is  at Annexure II.; ; (d) and (e) India's aviation industry is growing at a fast pace and requires substantial  number  of  pilots  to  counter  this  growth  during  the  next  five years.; ; The  recruitment  is  beyond  the  purview  of  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation. However, Ministry has provided an enabling environment for increase  of  capacity  for  training  of  CPLs  in  the  country.  The  Ministry  of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India (AAI) brought out  a  liberalised  Flying  Training  Organisation  (FTO)  policy  whereby  the concept  of  airport  royalty  (revenue  share  payment  by  FTOs  to  AAI)  has been abolished and land rentals have been significantly rationalised. After a competitive bidding process in two phases in 2021 and 2022, respectively, AAI awarded 15 FTO slots at 10 airports. Of these, 11 FTO slots are operational.; ; (f)  Presently,  no  such  program/proposal  is  under  consideration  of  this Ministry.

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DETAIL ON NUMBER OF WOMEN PILOTS

| S. No   | Operator Name     |   Total number of Indian Women Pilots employed |   Total number of pilots employed | %of Indian women pilots employed   |
|---------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| 1       | Indigo Airlines   |                                            791 |                              5174 | 15.28%                             |
| 2       | Air India         |                                            541 |                              3462 | 15.62%                             |
| 3       | Alliance Air      |                                             25 |                               144 | 17.36%                             |
| 4       | Spice Jet         |                                             61 |                               372 | 16.39%                             |
| 5       | SNV Aviation      |                                            119 |                               849 | 14.01%                             |
| 6       | Air India Express |                                            230 |                              1774 | 12.96%                             |
| Total   |                   |                                           1767 |                             11775 | 15.00%                             |

Source:- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

## Annexure I

Annexure II

DETAILS OF TOTAL NUMBER OF PILOTS INCLUDING FOREIGN NATIONALS AND WOMEN WORKING WITH VARIOUS DOMESTIC AIRLINES IN THE COUNTRY

| S. No   | Operator Name     |   Total number of Indian Male Pilots employed |   Total number of Indian Women Pilots employed | Total number of Foreign national Pilots employed   |   Total number of pilots employed |
|---------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1       | Indigo Airlines   |                                          4383 |                                            791 | 34                                                 |                              5174 |
| 2       | Air India         |                                          2921 |                                            541 | 58                                                 |                              3462 |
| 3       | Alliance Air      |                                           119 |                                             25 | 20                                                 |                               144 |
| 4       | Spice Jet         |                                           311 |                                             61 | NIL                                                |                               372 |
| 5       | SNV Aviation      |                                           730 |                                            119 | NIL                                                |                               849 |
| 6       | Air India Express |                                          1544 |                                            230 | 144                                                |                              1774 |
| Total   |                   |                                         10008 |                                           1767 | 236                                                |                             11775 |

Source:- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

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