Thai Pilots Eye CAAT for Job Assurance Amid Foreign Pilot Woes

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

The Thai Pilots Association is looking towards the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) for clarity and assurance regarding the future employment of foreign pilots on domestic routes. This comes on the heels of temporary permissions granted to foreign pilots, a situation that raised concerns for the domestic aviation workforce.

 

Teerawat Angkasakulkiat, the association's president, highlighted a troubling ambiguity within a cabinet resolution. This resolution sets an imprecise timeline for foreign pilots' involvement via wet lease agreements: ostensibly limited to six months with a possible one-time extension. Such ambiguity, Teerawat fears, could see airlines leveraging this loophole in future years, potentially stalling career prospects for local pilots.

 

Recent discussions with CAAT provided a glimmer of hope, as the authority acknowledged these employment challenges and showed an inclination against prolonging foreign pilots' stints. Teerawat noted CAAT's commitment to opening up more opportunities for Thai pilots, including aiding in securing jobs overseas. This is especially crucial as Thailand anticipates regaining the US Federal Aviation Administration's Category 1 status, which would likely broaden job avenues for local pilots.

 

Simultaneously, the Thai Pilots Association is taking legal measures. A lawsuit was recently lodged against the Labour Ministry with the Administrative Court, seeking an injunction to bar foreign pilots from handling domestic flights. The association reports that out of 3,300 pilots engaged with domestic airlines, over 1,700 remain unemployed, underscoring the pressing need for protective employment measures.

 

 

 

Teerawat pointed out that protecting local aviation jobs is a common practice worldwide. For instance, Indonesia repatriated Thai pilots during the pandemic to safeguard local employment. According to the Foreigners’ Working Management Emergency Decree, only Thai nationals should operate domestic flights. Currently, just one Thai airline employs foreign pilots, utilising them for the Bangkok-Phuket route under a wet lease arrangement.

 

Looking ahead, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has announced strides in international employment for Thai pilots. Recently, 26 Thai pilots secured roles with Cathay Pacific, under the airline’s extensive hiring initiative intending to employ over 1,000 Thai crew members. This collaboration is part of a larger strategy to boost overseas employment for 100,000 Thais, with targeted matching activities planned in markets like Japan, Israel, Hong Kong, and Macau.

 

As the aviation landscape continues to evolve, the Thai Pilots Association and CAAT’s cooperative efforts may well safeguard the future of Thailand’s aviation professionals, promising a more secure and prosperous horizon, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-20

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

I realise that there are lots of Thai pilots available, but my understanding is that many lack experience.

If I was lending a plane or three to an airline, I would want the best experienced person available to fly it.

Foreign pilots are accepted on International routes so why is it such a big issue on domestic routes?

 

NB Indonesia repatriating Thai pilots during the pandemic does not make it 'common practice worldwide'.

A very weak example.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Teerawat pointed out that protecting local aviation jobs is a common practice worldwide. For instance, Indonesia repatriated Thai pilots during the pandemic to safeguard local employment.

 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

The Thai Pilots Association is looking towards the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) for clarity and assurance regarding the future employment of foreign pilots on domestic routes. This comes on the heels of temporary permissions granted to foreign pilots, a situation that raised concerns for the domestic aviation workforce.

 

Teerawat Angkasakulkiat, the association's president, highlighted a troubling ambiguity within a cabinet resolution. This resolution sets an imprecise timeline for foreign pilots' involvement via wet lease agreements: ostensibly limited to six months with a possible one-time extension. Such ambiguity, Teerawat fears, could see airlines leveraging this loophole in future years, potentially stalling career prospects for local pilots.

 

Recent discussions with CAAT provided a glimmer of hope, as the authority acknowledged these employment challenges and showed an inclination against prolonging foreign pilots' stints. Teerawat noted CAAT's commitment to opening up more opportunities for Thai pilots, including aiding in securing jobs overseas. This is especially crucial as Thailand anticipates regaining the US Federal Aviation Administration's Category 1 status, which would likely broaden job avenues for local pilots.

 

Simultaneously, the Thai Pilots Association is taking legal measures. A lawsuit was recently lodged against the Labour Ministry with the Administrative Court, seeking an injunction to bar foreign pilots from handling domestic flights. The association reports that out of 3,300 pilots engaged with domestic airlines, over 1,700 remain unemployed, underscoring the pressing need for protective employment measures.

 

 

 

Teerawat pointed out that protecting local aviation jobs is a common practice worldwide. For instance, Indonesia repatriated Thai pilots during the pandemic to safeguard local employment. According to the Foreigners’ Working Management Emergency Decree, only Thai nationals should operate domestic flights. Currently, just one Thai airline employs foreign pilots, utilising them for the Bangkok-Phuket route under a wet lease arrangement.

 

Looking ahead, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has announced strides in international employment for Thai pilots. Recently, 26 Thai pilots secured roles with Cathay Pacific, under the airline’s extensive hiring initiative intending to employ over 1,000 Thai crew members. This collaboration is part of a larger strategy to boost overseas employment for 100,000 Thais, with targeted matching activities planned in markets like Japan, Israel, Hong Kong, and Macau.

 

As the aviation landscape continues to evolve, the Thai Pilots Association and CAAT’s cooperative efforts may well safeguard the future of Thailand’s aviation professionals, promising a more secure and prosperous horizon, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-20

Two way street?

 

Thai pilots want foreign pilots banned from flying domestic in Thailand.

 

Be careful guys, another country might create the same / opposite ban preventing Thai pilots from working in other countries.

 

Seems to me there would be quite a few Thai pilots looking for employment  opportunities abroad to add to their resume towards flying internationally.  

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Foreign pilots are accepted on International routes so why is it such a big issue on domestic routes?

Thailands protectionism over common sense.

[khunjeff]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

A lawsuit was recently lodged against the Labour Ministry with the Administrative Court, seeking an injunction to bar foreign pilots from handling domestic flights

 

That's fine, but then they can expect leasing aircraft from overseas to become more difficult - many of the leasing companies want to have their own personnel operating their planes.

[Davedub]

43 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Thailands protectionism over common sense.

 

Yep. Perhaps a better way to ensure more Thai pilots get employed might be to incentivise an increase in the quality of training - that way whether or not a pilot gets employed would be a decision based entirely on their skill set and suitablility for the job. 

 

Piloting is a safety critical role after all - the best person for the job should *always* get the job. Their nationality should not be a factor.