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IAF to allow pilots to join Air India
Softening its rigidity, the Indian Air Force has agreed to release its pilots to the civil aviation stream in a phased manner in the face of acute shortage being faced by state-owned carriers.
In a major gesture, new Air Chief Fali Homi Major on Monday announced that IAF would now release 15 to 20 pilots at regular intervals to join the civil flying stream.
"We have signed a memorandum of understanding with Air India whereby we will be releasing 15 to 20 pilots at intervals to be absorbed in the national carrier," he said in New Delhi.
His words come as a big relief to Air India, which faces a shortfall of 118 pilots. The government already has plans to merge the two national airlines into a single entity soon.
The total number of additional aircraft in the next five years is estimated at 500 for which an additional 5,000 pilots would be required. Currently, 2,940 pilots are employed as against the requirement of 3,160 pilots, leaving a shortfall of around 7 per cent.
Unveiling the plans to release fighter, transport and helicopter pilots during his maiden interaction with the media, the Chief of Air Staff ruled out allowing IAF pilots to join private airlines
"It will be a second career for our pilots and the scheme would commence soon," Major said.
According to top IAF officials, the rank of the pilots to be released would range from Group Captains to Air Vice Marshals with experience of three to four thousand flying hours.
Asked if their seniority would be protected on their conversion to civil stream, the Air Chief said that this would amount in second career though there was no specific protection of seniority.
In the past IAF has stoutly resisted efforts by its pilots to leave the force for greener pastures in the civilian sector. Of an estimated 200-300 pilots who sought release, only a handful were allowed to leave.
"Release of pilots would depend on the number available. It can go as high as 30-40 in a year or nothing," Major said adding release of pilots could be made quarterly, half-yearly and yearly depending on the availability.
"If we feel we are comfortable we may spare more," he said observing that before release the pilots would undergo two-three months training to make them acquaint with civil airliners.
http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/apr/09pilots.htm
Softening its rigidity, the Indian Air Force has agreed to release its pilots to the civil aviation stream in a phased manner in the face of acute shortage being faced by state-owned carriers.
In a major gesture, new Air Chief Fali Homi Major on Monday announced that IAF would now release 15 to 20 pilots at regular intervals to join the civil flying stream.
"We have signed a memorandum of understanding with Air India whereby we will be releasing 15 to 20 pilots at intervals to be absorbed in the national carrier," he said in New Delhi.
His words come as a big relief to Air India, which faces a shortfall of 118 pilots. The government already has plans to merge the two national airlines into a single entity soon.
The total number of additional aircraft in the next five years is estimated at 500 for which an additional 5,000 pilots would be required. Currently, 2,940 pilots are employed as against the requirement of 3,160 pilots, leaving a shortfall of around 7 per cent.
Unveiling the plans to release fighter, transport and helicopter pilots during his maiden interaction with the media, the Chief of Air Staff ruled out allowing IAF pilots to join private airlines
"It will be a second career for our pilots and the scheme would commence soon," Major said.
According to top IAF officials, the rank of the pilots to be released would range from Group Captains to Air Vice Marshals with experience of three to four thousand flying hours.
Asked if their seniority would be protected on their conversion to civil stream, the Air Chief said that this would amount in second career though there was no specific protection of seniority.
In the past IAF has stoutly resisted efforts by its pilots to leave the force for greener pastures in the civilian sector. Of an estimated 200-300 pilots who sought release, only a handful were allowed to leave.
"Release of pilots would depend on the number available. It can go as high as 30-40 in a year or nothing," Major said adding release of pilots could be made quarterly, half-yearly and yearly depending on the availability.
"If we feel we are comfortable we may spare more," he said observing that before release the pilots would undergo two-three months training to make them acquaint with civil airliners.
http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/apr/09pilots.htm
