Air India Express emerged as the Indian airline with the highest number of foreign pilots, holding 144 expatriate pilots in its ranks. This makes up over 60% of the total foreign pilots operating in India, underscoring the airline's significant reliance on international talent amidst a national pilot shortage. This surge in foreign pilot recruitment by Air India Express follows the airline's expansion plans, particularly after the induction of 35 Boeing 737 Max aircraft into its fleet.
.gif)
The need for experienced pilots to operate these new jets has driven the airline to seek talent from abroad, where there's a pool of pilots with the required type ratings and experience. Air India, the parent company, has also increased its foreign pilot count to 58, while IndiGo, another major player, employs 34 expatriates. The recruitment of foreign pilots is not new in India, but the scale at which Air India Express has engaged with this practice has caught industry attention. This move comes in the context of a broader industry challenge where the growth in air travel demand has outpaced the supply of trained, local pilots. The situation was further complicated by the global health crisis, which saw many pilots retire, move to different careers, or relocate abroad.
The hiring of expatriate pilots comes with its own set of regulations. These pilots must pass a medical examination, an oral English proficiency test, and secure a security clearance from the Union Home Ministry before being granted a Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization (FATA) certificate, valid for one year. There's been advocacy from smaller airlines and helicopter operators for extending this validity to two years to ensure better availability of pilots.
This reliance on foreign pilots, while addressing immediate needs, also highlights the urgency for India to bolster its domestic pilot training infrastructure. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been working on this front, with initiatives to increase the number of flying training organizations (FTOs) and enhance the quality of pilot training. However, until local supply can meet demand, the trend of employing foreign pilots is likely to continue, particularly for airlines like Air India Express, which are aggressively expanding their fleet and network.