Question : FOREIGN PILOTS

(a) the number of foreign pilots employed in various aviation companies/ airlines;

(b) whether the Government proposes to gradually phase out foreign/ expatriate pilots;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d) the time by the which the phasing out process of foreign pilots is likely to be completed; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard and to fill the vacancies to be caused by dispensing with the services of foreign pilots alongwith the criterion/ norms adopted therefor?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS & MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)

(a):- At present there are 526 foreign pilots employed by various aviation companies in India.

(b) to (e):- Ministry of Civil Aviation has renewed Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorisation (FATA) policy and directed Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to consider grant of FATA up to 31st December, 2013 on case to case basis. Guidelines have been issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to airlines to adopt effective training programmes for their Indian co - pilots for upgradation to Pilot - in - Command positions in order to gradually phase out expatriate pilots and in the process creating employment opportunities for Indian pilots.