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India Wants Foreign Pilots Out By 2013
“The deadline set for the foreign pilots to leave India is December 2013. We hope by then India can do without foreign pilots,” says E.K. Bharat Bhushan, head of the country’s airline regulator. The country’s airlines would save large amounts on labor costs by making the move because foreign pilots, who account for almost 20% of pilots employed by Indian air carriers, are paid higher salaries than their Indian counterparts, Bhushan says. At the moment, 415 foreign pilots are employed in the… (www.aviationweek.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
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?