(a) whether a pilot in the country is considered qualified after 200 hours of flying on a light piston engine plane whereas a airline co-pilot in America and other countries needs to fly at least 1500 hours;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to make aviation standards of the country at par with international standards?
The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)
(a) & (b) A Pilot can fly for an airline after 200 hrs of flying and is in possession of Commercial Pilot License(CPL). As per the privileges of the License(CPL), the holder of License may act as Pilot-in-Command of any aeroplane having an all-up-weight not exceeding five thousand seven hundred Kgs. and which is entered in the aircraft rating of his license and may also act as Co-Pilot of any aeroplane where a Co-Pilot is required to be carried and which is entered in the aircraft rating of his licence.For acquiring Air Transport Pilot License(ATPL), the candidate needs to acquire minimum 1500 hours as per Section M, Schedule II of the Aircraft Rule 1937 and the privileges of ATPL are as per Annex 1, para 2.6.2;
To Fly as Co-Pilot (Second in command) in USA the pilot needs to have 1500 hours of flying experience and Air Transport Pilot License;
(c) Requirements and privileges for Commercial Pilot license and Airline Transport Pilot License in Aircraft Rules 1937 are in line with ICAO Annex I Standard & Recommended Practices.