RE: NEWS ABT PILOTS

CHANDIGARH: "MAMA I am coming home," soulful lyrics by Ozzy Osbourne hold true for many NRI employees in the aviation industry who are now homeward bound to India.

Thanks to the boom in the aviation industry and dearth of employees, many CPL (commercial pilot license) holders and aircraft engineers who migrated in search of greener pastures are now returning to their motherland, where they are getting a red carpet welcome by Indian companies.

A reunion with their family coupled with lucrative salaries offered by airlines is attracting pilots back home.

According to sources, while Emirates pays around Rs 3 lakh per month to a pilot, Indian carriers pay anywhere between Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per month. "On top of this, they get accommodation too. It's an attractive option for NRI pilots to work in India," says Captain A Ranganathan, member, Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP).

Canada, Australia, US, Singapore and the Gulf countries are some places from where NRI pilots are returning. Air India's deputy general manager, training operations, Harpreet A De Singh says, "In India, the age of retirement for pilots is 65 unlike many countries where it is 60.

NRIs, like expats, are also coming to the country to fly for few more years." Besides, the comfort of being in one's own country is always alluring. "As salaries are at par with the global standards, it is a better option for them to work in their own country where they have strong cultural ties," said Surajit Banerjee, VP (HR), SpiceJet, that has recruited a couple of NRI pilots.

Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) CEO (India Subcontinent and Middle East) Kapil Kaul said the trend is not only restricted to pilots but holds true for engineers as well. "This trend of NRI employees returning to India is due to shortage of trained pilots in the country.

India and China need large number of pilots and engineers. If you look at the industry estimates, India will need at least 7,500 pilots by 2020.

Apart from pilots, there are also engineers and technicians who are coming back. Moreover for employees it's reunion with their relatives in the homeland," says Kaul. The trend is quite strong, at present, as the demand is outstripping supply.

But, with consolidations in the sky and number of aircraft orders dipping, NRI and expats might not get the red carpet welcome they are getting today. "This trend may not continue for long as the gap between demand and supply is reducing," says Ranganathan. But for now at least it's a sweet home-coming for many Indians.

Courtesy the Economic Times