Lok Sabha Question No. 1968 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-10
Subject: Shortage of Pilots
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED December 2015)

(To be answered on the 10

## SHORTAGE OF PILOTS

## 1968. SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIA TION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) Whether there is reported shortage 0f Indian type rated Commanders in aviation industry in the country pilots
- (b) If the details thereof and the reasons therefor; SO,`
- (c) The current strength of foreign pilots in aviation industry in the country;
- (d) The number of co-pilots of upgraded as commanders during the last one year:

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

(2)-(b) There is shortage of type rated Commanders in the country due to growth in aviation industry and induction of new aircraft in the fleet of the airlines; However; co-pilots do not possess sufficient training and experience as required to become commander omn that type:

To cover the shortage of type rated pilots, validation of foreign is done as per rule 45 of Aircraft rules, 1937. Indian pilots which are inducted by airlines and are trained by them to phase out Expat pilots. As a follow up, cases of Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorisation (FATA) are processed on the basis of information furnished by each airline and only after security clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs. pilots pilots

- (c) The detail of foreign pilots employed by various operators as on 30th September , 2015 is at Annexure 'A'.
- (d) The details of number f co-pilots upgraded to commanders of scheduled airlines during the last year are at Annexure 'B'

| Sr. No   | Name of Operator              | No of Foreign Pilots   |
|----------|-------------------------------|------------------------|
| 1.       | Air India Charters Ltd.       | 11                     |
| 2        | Jet Airways_                  | 84                     |
| 3        |                               | 04                     |
| 4        | Blue Dart                     | 04                     |
| 5        | Indigo Airlines               | 94                     |
| 6_       | Alliance Air                  | 10                     |
| 7 .      | Air Asia                      | 07                     |
| 8        | Air Costa                     | 14                     |
| 9        | TATA SIA (Vistara) Airlines   | 01                     |
| 10.      | Air Pegasus_                  | 05                     |
| 14.      | Go Airlines                   | 09                     |
| 12.      | Air India Ltd.                | Nil                    |
| 13,      | Non Scheduled/Other Operators | 41                     |
|          | Total                         | 284                    |

## during the Jast year are as follows:

| No    | Name of Operator            | 2014 Men   | Women   | Total   |
|-------|-----------------------------|------------|---------|---------|
| 1.    | Air India Charters Ltd.     | 05         | Nil     | 05      |
| 2.    | Jet Airways                 | 49         | 06      | 55      |
| 3 .   | Spice Jet                   | 38         | 08      | 46      |
| 4_    | Blue Dart                   | 01         | Nil     | 01      |
| 5     | Indigo Airlines             | 96         | 11      | 107     |
| 6     | Alliance Air                | 3          | Nil     | 03      |
| 7_    | Air Asia                    | Nil        | Nil     | Nil     |
|       | Air Costa                   | 05         | 01      | 06      |
| 9     | TATA SIA (Vistara) Airlines | Nil        | Nil     | Nil     |
| 10.   | Air Pegasus                 | Nil        | Nil     | Nil     |
| 11.   | Go Airlines_                | 06         | 02      | 08      |
| 12_   | Air India Ltd.              | 33         |         | 37      |
| Total |                             |            |         | 268     |