Foreign pilots would be asked to leave India by 2013: DGCA

NEW DELHI: The foreign pilots, who are working in the Indian aviation industry, is expected to be urged to leave India by 2013, said Mr EK Bharat Bhushan, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Mr Bhusan has said that the Indian airline industry will be able to make huge savings since the foreign origin pilots are highly paid. Currently, 415-foreign pilots are working in India.

Mr Bhusan, said, “At the moment, we have about 1,300 pilots from our country who are flying. Currently, one issue that is being faced is that we are dependent on these foreign pilots, because most of our pilots are co-pilots.”

Out of the 6,500-commercial pilot licence (CPL) holders in India, mere 500 are left to be verified again. The Airline Transport Pilot Licence examinations will be held online from August.