reveals that in that last 10 years, 798 Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots have resigned and 289 of these pilots were given No-objection Certificates (NOC) to fly private airlines.
New Delhi has been upgrading the military equipment and even purchasing modern combat aircraft to strengthen the IAF. The newly acquired Rafale jets are ready to be inducted in a high profile ceremony in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French defense minister Florence Parly at the air force station in Ambala where the first five aircraft have been stationed.
However, in 2016 and 2017, IAF saw the worst years when 100 and 114 pilots respectively quit the IAF. In 2015, only 37 pilots had quit before superannuation. With an average of 80 pilots quitting the IAF every year, it could be facing an acute shortage of pilots.On February 1, 2018, the government informed the Rajya Sabha that the IAF had 3,855 pilots against a sanctioned strength of 4,231. There was a shortage of 376 pilots which reflects poorly on the preparedness of the IAF.
Of the pilots that quit, more than one-third of them received the NOC to fly private airlines. As per reports, a middle rung pilot earns up to Rs 2 lakh ($2700) in salary per month and can get four times the amount flying with a private airline.Most pilots quit after 20 years of service which makes them eligible for a pension.
“The IAF way of life is very good and apart from the salary, there are several intangible benefits. But my workload is far less as a private airlines pilot and there’s nothing to complain about the remuneration. As captain, I am responsible for everything after the aircraft door closes and once it opens, my job is over,” said an IAF officer who recently quit service and took up a job in a private airline and didn’t wish to be named.
HT reported in February this year, that IAF is working on measures to prevent its pilots from leaving the service and joining private airlines that offer better salaries and perquisites. Even though the report didn’t mention any specific measure, it said that they will be made shortly, and could involve cooling-off periods and changes in pension plans.
The RTI also asked about if such changes are being introduced. “Has the Indian Air Force evolved or is working on any policy to stop their pilots from quitting and joining private airlines. If yes, what is that?” In response to the query in the RTI, IAF said that there exists no such plans or policies.
Experts have said that it is important for the IAF to retain its pilots. “A pilot gets into operational flying after training for almost 250 to 300 hours in different aircraft. That costs a lot of money. You cannot afford to let trained people go. Other global air forces are also struggling with the same issues,” said Air Marshal KK Nohwar (retd), director-general, Centre for Air Power Studies.
Boeing capsule heads to ISS today in 1st…
06-05-2024
The gumdrop-shaped CST-100 Starliner with two astronauts aboard was due for liftoff at 10.34pm (8.04am IST Tuesday) from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carried atop an Atlas V rocket...
Read moreJudge fines Trump for contempt for 10th …
06-05-2024
Justice Juan Merchan said the nine $1,000 fines he had imposed so far did not seem to be deterring the wealthy business mogul from violating the order, which bars him...
Read moreTo deter West, Russia orders tactical nu…
06-05-2024
The drills are a response to "provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation," the defence ministry said in a statement. It was the first time...
Read moreHamas agrees to a ceasefire proposal; Is…
06-05-2024
The Israeli official said the proposal that Hamas had accepted was a "softened" version of an Egyptian proposal, which included "far-reaching" conclusions that Israel could not accept. "This would appear...
Read more22-year-old Indian student stabbed to de…
06-05-2024
A 22-year-old MTech student named Navjeet Sandhu from Karnal was reportedly killed in Melbourne, Australia, following a disagreement among Indian students regarding rent. The incident took place on Saturday at...
Read moreEU ends rule of law proceedings against …
06-05-2024
The European Union Commission is to end six years of rule of law proceedings against Poland, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, marking the opening of a...
Read moreBritain's King Charles III marks first a…
06-05-2024
On Monday, King Charles III of Britain celebrated the one-year anniversary of his coronation after facing challenges such as a cancer diagnosis and ongoing conflicts with his son Prince Harry...
Read moreBiden meets Jordan's King Abdullah as Ga…
06-05-2024
Biden and King Abdullah discuss Gaza ceasefire with slim prospects. Hamas demands war end for hostages, Netanyahu rejects. Kerem Shalom attack kills 3. Dispute over Rafah incursion persists. Arab states...
Read moreNorth Korea marks Kim Jong Un's birthday…
06-05-2024
North Koreans took loyalty oaths on Kim Jong Un's 40th birthday, signaling a political assertiveness shift since 2011. The ceremony details were revealed by a South Korean institute, possibly leading...
Read more