Airlines face short of 300 Pilots

NEW DELHI: Passengers have come out of hiding. Airports are humming again. Now, if only there were enough pilots around. The country’s airlines have drawn up ambitious expansion plans against a brightening backdrop, but are confronted with a severe shortage of experienced pilots. Industry estimates peg the shortage at 300 at present, but the number will swell to nearly 700 once a government order that bars expat pilots takes effect from next July. A beefed-up fleet size is certain to amplify the shortage. The number of aircraft operated by low-cost carriers such as IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir is estimated to more than double to 130 in five years. Full-service players such as Jet Airways, Air India and Kingfisher Airlines that together operate nearly 350 aircraft, too, are expanding. Jet, the country’s biggest private airline, plans to increase capacity by 15% this year. Air India has ordered 28 Dreamliners due for next September.

For the aviation sector, 700 is a weighty number given that an airline requires 10 pilots per aircraft. “It is a serious problem. But no regulator will be inconsiderate enough to have the industry grounded because of a deadline,” said Kapil Kaul, South Asia CEO of Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation, a global aviation consultancy. Airlines are not taking chances though. “In order to ensure that airlines’ expansion continues unhindered, we have asked the aviation regulator (DGCA) to extend the deadline for expat pilots,” said Federation of Indian Airlines general secretary Anil Baijal.

Whether the government enforces its deadline remains to be seen, the way out for airlines is to increase hiring. Indeed, there is a huge pool of trainee pilots to fill vacancies. But hiring in the aviation sector is different from any other in that only those who have had at least four years of flying experience can become captains. In India, there has always been a dearth of pilots at this level. The influx of expats into the Indian aviation scene was spawned by this shortage. “Although training of junior pilots has begun, it will be difficult to cope without the expat pilots,” said a senior executive of a full service carrier.

The problem has been accentuated by a dearth of commanders and veterans who can train the recruits. Hiring and training in this category took a backseat during the slowdown and that is hurting airlines now. “It takes four to five years of training for a junior pilot to be able to become a captain,” said Bird Group executive director Ankur Bhatia.