Air China's - Orient Aviation

Presidential concernThe shortage of pilots in the Philippines has become such acrucial issue that the country’s president, Gloria MacapagalArroyo, has become involved in looking at ways of stoppingthe cockpit ‘brain drain’.In March, in a televised discussion programme on the subject,she gave her answer to the problem: enlist the helpof the country’s air force.“The airlines have airplanes, but no pilots. Theair force has pilots, but no airplanes,” she said. “Iwould say if possible in co-ordination with theaviation schools and private airlines we could lookfor a way for our air force pilots to be trained [to flywith] commercial airlines.”The idea is hardly new. But air force pilots in the Philippinesare banned from opting out to join the commercial ranks. Newgovernment legislation would be required to allow an exodus.Nevertheless, the pilot shortfall has become so serious Manilawould probably move quickly to fast-track changes.Philippine Airlines is not the only local carrier suffering (seemain story). The televised discussion was told that some 140 seniorpilots, dozens more first and second officers and more than 1,900‘[Philippine] pilotshave to give minimumof six month’s noticeof leaving his or herairline.’aircraft mechanics have left for higher paying jobs overseas in thepast five years.Airlines are so concerned that in March they joined forces andsubmitted a paper to the country’s Parliament. They pointed out oneforeign airline has been recruiting in the Philippines and said it needsto hire 600 pilots.A local employment agency has requests onits books from foreign carriers for more than2,000 mechanics, said the submission. None ofthe foreign airlines were named.The paper did say that Singapore has “apending job order for 50 pilots” at the Philippineemployment authority. It stated the Lion City is hometo three budget carriers, including Tiger Airways, part-owned bySingapore Airlines.The Philippine airlines jointly asked government to place a five-yearban on any local pilot leaving the country to join a carrier overseas.The request was turned down, but Manila has introduced a newrule under which pilots have to give a minimum of six month’s noticeof leaving his or her airline. If they fail to do so, authorities will refuseto renew the pilot’s licence.MAY 2006 ORIENT AVIATION 23