(a) whether there is an acute shortage of qualified pilots in the public undertakings;
(b) if so, whether in order to meet the requirement of pilots, the Government has recently increased the retirement age of pilots from 60 years to 65 years subject to certain conditions;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the extent to which it will help in meeting the requirement of pilots?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION (SHRI PRAFUL PATEL)
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b) and (c):- The Government has not increased the retirement age of pilots. However, the Government has permitted services of professional pilots upto the age of 65 years from the existing 61 years provided the aircraft is operated in a multi crew environment and the other pilot is less than sixty years of age.
(d): Based on this permission, public undertakings have taken on contract pilots who are between 60 and 65 years of age in order to overcome the shortage.