There is shortage of type rated Commanders in the country due to growth in aviation industry and induction of new aircrafts in the fleet of the airlines.  However, adequate number of co-pilots are available and employed with the airlines.  These co-pilots do not possess sufficient training and experience as required to become commander on that type.  To cover the shortage of Commanders and to provide experience and training to above mentioned co-pilots so that they can be upgraded to commanders, validation of foreign pilots is done as per CAR Section-7, Flight Crew Standards, Series ‘G’ Part-II dated 01-12-2010.  The number of foreign pilots is on the decrease in the recent years as more and more co-pilots are upgraded to commanders.  Total number of Foreign Pilots employed by various aviation companies has come down from 526 last year to 340 at present.  Details of foreign Pilots employed by various companies as on 30^th November 2012 is given in Annexure.

To cover the shortage of type rated pilots, validation of foreign pilots is done as per rule 45 of Aircraft Rules, 1937.  Indian Pilots who are inducted by Airlines and are eligible to become PIC as per the policy of Airlines are being trained by them to phase out Expat Pilots.  As a follow up, cases of Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization (FATA) Pilots are processed on the basis of information furnished by each Airline with phase out programme of expat pilots.  The Government has allowed issue of FATA up to 31^st  December, 2013 on case to case basis.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shri K.C. Venugopal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Annexure: Details of Foreign Pilots employed by Aviation Companies as on 30^th November 2012:

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MA/DM