India Wants Foreign Pilots Out By 2013

Interesting story. A little to much "national pride" going on though. I really hope that whoever they put in the Captain's seat, has enough hours flying whatever equipment it may be. I would imagine that the "foreign" pilots were hired because they possesed the experience to fly and captain a specific airliner, experience that was not to be found - or limited - locally. So, now, i suppose, they want all of the co-pilots to gradually get ramped up so as to take the captains seat; therefore, edging out the foreign pilots. This is fine, progression is good. But to actually have a government mandate this... well, i have mixed feelings about it.

Well, they did the same thing in 2009 and had to back down because of growth and I thought there was an article somewhere the other day that was talking about more future growth. It interesting that the government is mandating it on one hand and talking about cost savings for the airlines on the other. Not sure of how their government is structured but looks like if it was strictly a cost thing, the airlines could do that. Maybe they need the government edict in order to carry it out. At any rate, I am like you Alistair, I hope they have enough qualified co-pilots to promote to Captain.

What is the US going to do with the numerous Indian CFIs working within the Conus in reprisal for this uncalled for regulation. Understand that in the UK there are scores of Indian CFIs too.

Probably not a thing cause they don't want to piss off an ally that has nukes. It's OK for them to crap on us though. Long time ago before FDR, this country had an isolationist stance in that we didn't get involved in other peoples problems. We probably can't go back to that but we could make it a two way street if somebody about the level of President had the gonads to do it.

....why? Isn't having foreigners good?

Well, that is all well and good, but who will fly the planes?

It's not a problem now, nor well into the future for many reasons; first the growth in aircraft - they can train enough pilots fast enough; second is flight into foreign airspace - the Europeans will stomp on this QUICK and not allow undertrained flight crews on heavy iron into their airspace; lastly, their students come to America/UK/Canada or Aussie to train, then instead of going back, the duck into a crack never to be seen again till an amnesty comes about. Indian airspace, like China, is a dangerous place to fly, more so at times than west Africa.

Old story, they use us then crap on us !

Many of the aspiring pilots are in the states learning. Here in Florida. most of the schools cater to Indian and Asian students.
I had a 3 month stint in India. Great experience, but a system that is so far behind, I think the Wright Bros. had something to do with its establishment.Has anyone else been told by ATC to orbit indefinately?

Isn't this the country that is having problems with locally recruited flight deck crew that have phoney licences? I am just grateful that I don't have to travel as a passenger in Indian and several other countries.

Maybe we should look at this in a different way.....and apply the same thinking to all the foreign doctors in this country!!

WOW, Maybe the US can take a lesson from this and save some american jobs from the illegals. India can take people in the country legally and get rid of them and we can't take illegals out of ours period. What is wrong with that picture:)

Capt. Frangione said: "Has anyone else been told by ATC to orbit indefinately?"

No, but when inquiring about the weather, expecting temperature, wind speed, direction, and pressure, ATC advised me "The weather is fine, come on in." India, what a country! A million years of history, 3 days of progress.