TBM Staff - Mumbai In March 2023, India had 67 foreign pilots working across airlines, charter operators, and helicopter companies, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) in a written response to Lok Sabha. However, as of November 28, 2024, the number has surged to 236, excluding those employed by charter and helicopter companies.
Air India Express, with 144 foreign pilots, makes up more than 60% of this total. Air India and IndiGo employ 58 and 34 expatriate pilots, respectively. The recent increase in foreign pilots is attributed to Air India Express’s induction of 35 Boeing 737 Max aircraft and Air India’s lease of 11 Boeing 777 aircraft, creating a higher demand for pilots. Notably, both Tata Group airlines had no expatriate pilots last March.
Air India Express has hired foreign pilots to address the current pilot shortage. An official explained that the limited availability of Boeing 737 pilots and training facilities in India made this necessary. “Hiring foreign pilots is a temporary solution while we train more pilots,” he said. Over the past year, the airline has recruited around 800 pilots.
Both Air India and IndiGo also plan to gradually reduce their reliance on expatriate pilots by developing their own talent pipeline through command upgrades and new hires.
Foreign pilots must pass a medical exam, an oral English test, and obtain a security clearance from the Union Home Ministry before being granted a foreign air crew temporary authorization certificate, which is valid for one year. Smaller airlines and helicopter operators are advocating for a two-year validity to improve pilot availability.
“Post selection, it takes four to five months before a foreign pilot can start flying in India,” an official explained. (Source: The Hindu BusinessLine)
