Page 34 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCOTBER 2017 Online Magazine

FEATURE PILOT TRAINING

Eye on the Future

As shortage looms, industry gears up with robust training system
By Aprajita Anil

An unpreCedented FoCus on the region has the capacity to train only about in 2015. Malaysian Airlines raised it from 55
merger and acquisition in the Asian airline 5,000 people a year. This shortfall punctures to 60, Singapore Airline keeps it at a flexible
industry, corresponding to the growing air the region’s fast-growing airlines with range of 62-64 years and Air Asia mandates
passenger traffic, has led to a dramatic rise serious problems, often creating a situation retirement at 65. Pilots at the higher end
in the trained manpower required to operate where an airframer is willing to sell airplanes, of the retirement have to go through more
these aircrafts. According to Boeing’s 2017 however, the airlines is in a situation where frequent medical check-ups. Although China
20-year global Pilot and Technician Outlook, they have had to cut back on flights or cancel too had been looking at raising the age from
the Asia-Pacific region will have the highest expansion plans because of an inability to 60 in the next two to three years, the plan has
demand globally for pilots, technicians and find qualified crews. In 2015, two Japanese been put on hold.
cabin crew. The region will need 253,000 new carriers cut back on flights because they
pilots, 256,000 new technicians and 308,000 couldn’t find pilots. JetStar too had held off Fresh Intake
new cabin crew by 2036. This accounts for its regional expansion plans for this reason. Several airlines have found success with
nearly 40 percent of the total global demand Statistics show that at the current rate what are called ab-initio programs. Under
forecast. This figure, however, continues to of pilots entering the profession, it will be this program, young candidates, with no prior
change every month. difficult to meet the average appointment experience, are chosen, trained and groomed
of “70 new type-rated pilots per day globally”, from the ground-up in a tightly controlled
Demand and Supply a number stated by the Canadian firm CAE. atmosphere. This ultra-competitive approach
With the boom in the demand for air travel Apart from the natural consequence of the produces quality pilots, but again the time
in the region, driven by strong economic industry growth, there are several other taken to produce these cock-pit ready pilots,
growth, growing middle class, appearance of reasons for this shortage. An important factor is being outpaced by the industry growth. This
new low-cost carriers and several upcoming being the cost of training. Pilot retirement then forces the airlines industry in Asia to go
new routes, Asia-Pacific is certainly a has been another factor. Either pilots have hunting for pilots – experienced captains and
key growth market creating tremendous reached the retirement age of 65, or have first officers – from the western world. It is
demand for pilots to fly all those new planes. taken early retirement in pursuit of other estimated that 10 per cent of the Asia Pacific
However, according to a 2011 study from the career options or loss of medical fitness. In an pilots are expatriates. In addition to offering
International Civil Aviation Organization effort to ease the shortage, Japan had raised high salaries, which are about 10-15 per cent
(ICAO), United Nation’s aviation agency, the the bar from 62 to 64 in 2004 and again to 67 more than their western counterparts, certain
countries offer a variety of other benefits too.
Some even offer to pay the applicable tax.
The relaxing regulations and
infrastructure investments make India and
China, in particular, a high-demand market. In
China, the airlines may offer salary premiums
by 70 per cent. However, the deficit also
presents the region with a huge opportunity
for airlines and other companies that
provide training services. Some airlines help
by running sponsorship programs, where the
airline guarantees a loan that is repaid over
time once a trainee begins work with that
company. However, most of these programs
are based on bonds or installment payment
systems which may not work for everyone

Complimentary Approach
The other route the airlines are resorting
to as a part of plan to ease the pressure of
pilot shortage, are through partnership with
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