298 foreign pilots fly India-registered aircraft: Aviation Ministry

The Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that 298 foreign pilots were operating in India-registered aircraft in various domestic carriers.

The ministry also informed the House that the existing provision for allowing non-Indian pilots to fly India-registered airplane based on the Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorisation (FATA) is valid up to December 31, 2020.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayanti Sinha mentioned in a written reply that a total number of 298 foreign pilots are employed by various domestic carriers.

“Keeping in view the projected requirements of 1,043 aircraft to be inducted by schedule airlines over a period of next eight years and air crew/ aircraft utilisation, there is a projected requirement of approximately 12,516 pilots in the country by 2025,” he said.   

However, Centre has advised the carriers to reduce down their number of recruitments on overseas pilots.

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“All domestic airlines have been advised to develop their in-house strength to reduce the dependency on foreign pilots,” Sinha said.

The instruction aims to train more in-house pilots and upgrade their skills equalling to Pilot-in-Command or Commanders of the aircraft.

“Accordingly, airlines train their pilots to upgrade them as Pilot-in-Command or Commanders and to reduce the dependency on foreign pilots by phasing out foreign pilots,” said Sinha.

In a separate written reply, Sinha said the capital expenditure for setting up a new airport near Jewar in Uttar Pradesh is estimated to be around Rs 15,754 crore and the construction is to be done in four phases.

The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) is the implementing agency for the airport project.

(With inputs from agencies)