Indian aviation sector faces tremendous shortage of pilots; can hit pace of growth

Aviation sector in India is on a roll as it is seeing massive growth year-on-year. Considering the growth in the sector, airlines like Indigo and SpiceJet have placed orders for as many as 1,000 planes, which will be added to their fleet gradually. These planes will be delivered till 2030. 

Government's UDAN "Regional Connectivity Scheme" is also playing an important role in the growth of the sector. It has this objective: "Let the common citizen of the country fly". But this fleet growth is also pointing towards a significant problem that the Indian carriers will have to face in the times to come. The problem is related to a shortage of pilots. 

According to a CAPA study, at least 250 more commanders will be required in the aviation sector by end of this year. Over the next year or so, as many as 1,000 pilots may be needed to fly new aircraft as they are added to the operations. 

"Pilot shortage is a global phenomenon and it is an exceptional demand in countries like India, China, Indonesia, Middle East. The demand for pilots, especially the commanders, is significant and is linked to the exceptional growth. I feel, there is a shortage of 250 commanders in India at present, which may go up if we fail in addressing the problem," says Kapil Kaul, CEO, CAPA. 

Kaul added, "This shortage can be dealt in two ways. One is that airlines should start producing commanders from their own system and the second is to get foreign pilots under FATA. But the pilot shortage is an issue for other countries too, so it's most difficult to get foreign pilots. Pilot shortage is a perennial problem".

Ominously, this lack of pilots in the country may play the role of a speed breaker in the growth of the sector in India. In fact, this shortage is also linked to the number of new pilots, which is almost half of the required number joining the industry on an annual basis. In addition, the retirement of pilots is also adding to the problem. 

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To fight this shortage, airlines are grooming pilots by providing in-house training to them but this is not enough to supply increasing requirements.