Unemployed pilots form union, submit demands to govt

New Delhi: Airport and airline managements crying hoarse and increasing passenger fares may have become the face of the severe downturn in aviation industry.
But now, one more segment — possibly the worst affected by the crisis — has come together to have its voice heard. Nearly 100 to 150 young commercial pilot licence (CPL) holders, who spent anywhere up to Rs 35 lakh to become pilots, have formed the All India Unemployed Pilots Association (UPA).
With 3,000 to 3,500 CPL holders looking for jobs, and almost 1,000 more being churned out every year in India, UPA says its ranks are swelling by the day. Recently, UPA gave a charter of demands to the aviation ministry and the DGCA.
Three years ago, because of the unprecedented boom in air traffic here and the resulting shortage of pilots, the government had increased flying age of pilots from 60 to 65. Now, UPA has asked the government to roll this back so that 60 plus pilots can make way for the jobless youngsters. The other demand is for the ministry to expedite the sending back of 900-odd expat pilots on the rolls of Indian carriers.
Captain Ashok Arya, an ex-pilot who along with young net-savvy pilots formed the UPA, says the families of the CPL holders are facing tremendous financial hardship.
06/09/09 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India