Oped»
Reach for the sky
JUN 15 -
The plight of jobless pilots and departure of experienced senior pilots to foreign countries has become a topic of amusement which it is not. The human nature of seeking greener pastures elsewhere is not a surprising factor. Hundreds of youths go abroad everyday for better opportunities. Millions of Nepalis have left the country and millions more will be taking the same path in the coming years. This is a fact. And pilots are also taking the same route that other skilled manpower has done. Doctors, engineers, business entrepreneurs and many others will do the same if the country’s situation does not improve.
There are more than 200 young pilots who have returned home after completing their pilot training in South Africa, the Philippines, the US, Canada and other countries at great expense anxiously expecting jobs here in the country. This trend of boys and girls going abroad for pilot training has been continuing unabated for years encouraged by the massive publicity done by pilot training institutes and their agents. It is sad that the country’s lone pilot training school in Bharatpur could not accomplish its dream of providing reasonable and affordable pilot training.
It is a fact that Nepali pilots are paid huge salaries and perks which are far beyond the normal standard because of the shortage of trained senior pilots. There are many instances where upcoming airlines had to shut down because their senior pilots went to another carrier. It is a fact that airlines have been engaging in headhunting in order to survive in the market. Many senior pilots who were trained by the then RNAC and private domestic airlines are regularly leaving the country for higher pay and a better life in foreign countries.
New and upcoming airlines cannot come into existence and survive by paying pilots a monthly salary of Rs. 4-7 lakhs. A new airline with two aircraft in its fleet will require at least five pilots and a similar number of engineers. There is an anomaly somewhere here. We have a huge number of unemployed junior pilots, there are entrepreneurs willing to venture into the airline business, licenses are issued but the airlines are not coming into operation, and the market in the domestic air transport sector is sufficient for a few more airlines. International flights into the country are increasing which means a proportionate number of domestic airlines will be required to fly all these tourists to various parts of the country.
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation should not remain self-satisfied by the revenue received by issuing airline licenses and expect the projected one million tourists to simply arrive in the country. The ministry should urgently implement policies whereby the operation of domestic airlines are economically feasible, viable and practical on a long-term basis.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) should not only hold classes and issue certificates to aspiring pilots for the fees they pay, but also see that they have the possibility of getting employment. CAAN should monitor and revise the process of employment of the crew and engineers so that the maximum number of new crew members are developed to allow replacement of aging captains and senior pilots.
CAAN should also seriously seek remedies for the decline in the domestic airline business. Training schools for pilots, engineers and other skilled manpower should be made easily available within the country. Private flying schools and small aircraft like the PC750XL, Cessna and Pilatus Porter should be encouraged so that the required number of pilots and engineers can be produced in a speedy manner at home at low cost to the aspirants.
There was a time during the 1970s and 1980s when Indian pilots were working for Nepali airlines. Now the situation has reversed with Nepali pilots rushing to India. This is because Indian aviation is taking off in a grand manner with a free and true open sky policy being implemented.
(The author is director of the Nepal National Aviation Council and ex-executive director of Air Kasthamandap)
Posted on: 2010-06-16 07:49
Headlines
Advertisements
