As the country witnesses an unprecedented boom in civil aviation sector, scarcity of pilots has become a big challenge not just for fledgling airlines but for established players as well.
Most of them are devising new strategies to recruit pilots and are tapping all possible sources to ensure their availability.
At present, India is facing a shortage of 3,500 pilots with the domestic airlines set to add 300-plus aircraft in next three to five years.
Low-fare carrier Air Deccan is eyeing jobless pilots in US and Europe.
"Though India is facing shortage of pilots, the scene is different in the US and Europe. There are several pilots available in these continents who are now in process of shifting to non-related job due to unemployment," said Managing Director G R Gopinath.
Air Deccan currently has over 350 pilots and would need over 2000 pilots following its fleet enhancement program.
National flag carrier Air-India is planning to recruit engineering and science graduates from college campuses to train them as pilots.
"Air-India board has recently given its approval for the concept of recruiting graduates in science and engineering disciplines from college campuses," said chairman and Managing Director Vasudevan Thulasidas.
Air-India require over 700 pilots in the next seven years and the proposed recruitment drive would continue for two to three years. Thulasidas said these recruitments would be subject to bonds and guarantees.
"These graduates would be taken for training abroad followed by domestic training," he said.
Jet Airways CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said availability of pilots was a key concern area as output from training schools was limited owing to lack of instructors and as well as training aircraft.
"Jet Airways would require 1,000 pilots in next two years and we are looking at expatriates to bridge the gap," said a senior Jet executive.
Indian (formerly Indian Airlines) has also started a vigorous recruitment drive while airlines like Paramount Airways, SpiceJet, GoAir and other start-up airlines are scouting for foreign pilots
