23 minutes ago, jcmj said:

Because we are the ones flying 

Are you saying that Thai pilots arent qualified? Are you saying that the Thai government allows dangerous conditions?

 

I dont know how you guys get away with it

6 minutes ago, johnnybangkok said:

What nonsense. There are SOME jobs that are restricted to only Thai's (https://thailand.acclime.com/guides/restricted-jobs/) but equally there are plenty of opportunities open to foreigners and plenty of foreigners (including myself) working here.

 

You really don't know what you are talking about. There are plenty of well educated Thai's in the workplace, many of them educated at the top universities here or overseas. There's also plenty even from Ivy league institutes. Standards in many industries are universal (think aviation, A.I. engineering, science, I.T. etc) so there really is no other option than for people to be of a certain education and/or standard. 

Yes sure.......explain than why foreign pilits are not allowed, or why English foreign teachers need a foreign master (!) degree

8 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Yes sure.......explain than why foreign pilits are not allowed, or why English foreign teachers need a foreign master (!) degree

No one is denying there is protectionism in Thailand and I can't speak for the powers that be, but maybe the introduction of foreign pilots drives down salaries for Thai pilots or there's lots of Thai pilots on the market right now. I'm guessing though. As for teachers - I'd assume it's to keep the standards high but again I'm not 100% sure.

 

My point though was your sweeping statement 'It is known that Thai jobs are only for Thai people and not allowed to foreigners' - which for the most part is simply not true.

On 11/18/2025 at 4:25 PM, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Thailand’s Administrative Court has annulled a Labour Ministry order allowing foreign pilots to fly domestic routes, declaring it an illegal exemption. The decision, issued on November 17, nullifies a previous ministerial announcement that temporarily permitted foreign pilots to operate under a wet-lease agreement.

 

The ruling follows a legal challenge by the Thai Pilots Association and its president against the Labour Ministry. Initially, the controversial announcement dated December 13, 2024, came after a request from a private airline wanting to lease two Airbus A320 aircraft staffed with foreign crew for a claimed tourism stimulus policy.

 

Although the Labour Minister had the authority to permit such exemptions under the Royal Ordinance on the Management of Foreign Workers Employment 2017, the court emphasized that this power should only be exercised in specific situations such as national security or economic emergencies, without harming local job opportunities. The court concluded there was no clear public interest or exceptional circumstance justifying the exemption.

 

The court highlighted that granting the exemption benefited only one company and criticized this as an improper use of discretion, per Section 9(1) of the Act on Establishment of Administrative Courts and Administrative Court Procedure 1999. Consequently, the Labour Ministry’s announcement is annulled immediately.

 

The verdict is anticipated to strengthen protections for Thai pilots and restrict future exemptions that might favor foreign workers over local talent without substantial justification. Experts believe this decision signals government ministries to adhere strictly to legal frameworks and provide adequate rationale for such exemptions.

 

Observers expect this ruling to influence future policy decisions, ensuring that any similar exemptions are scrutinized and justified appropriately. This case underscores the need for transparent, fair processes in governmental decision-making, reported The Thaiger.

 

Key Takeaways

• The court ruling cancels a labour exemption for foreign pilots.
• It mandates using discretion only in specific, justified circumstances.
• Impacts future governmental discretion, reinforcing local pilot protections.

 

Related Stories:

Court Rejects Bid to Ground Foreign Pilots in Thailand

Court Considers Dispute Over Hiring Foreign Pilots

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-11-18

 

 

 

so, if you're extremely rich with yr own plane & crew: cannot fly within Thailand?

mmm, nice tourism-boost!

23 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is known that Thai jobs are only for Thai people and not allowed to foreigners... This is again the proof of the outdated law... Thailand for Thais... only the money of foreigners is welcome

The US is trying to do the same thing with its "America First" fanatics, and the mind boggling tariffs. Right. Isolate yourself from the whole rest of the world, that really helps everyone. 

I thought the only reason for the wet hires with foreign pilots was to meet the excess demand of high season. There is already a shortage of qualified Thai pilots (a shortage of pilots in every country, actually). It doesn't seem like foreign pilots are taking any work away from Thais, they're just filling a temporary gap. Is this just more nationalist nonsense and ill-conceived face saving?

I am flabbergasted. It is not a long time ago, I red Thailand had many pilots out of job and some with issues.

No cant tell anymore what it was all about and cant recall where I red it, very probably AN.

13 hours ago, peetje said:

But Thais are allowed to work all over the world.

 

They can work in any country?? No work permit required??

Do they have some kind of special privilege for this? 

I've had to get work permits for almost every country I worked in. 

3 hours ago, khunpeer said:

so, if you're extremely rich with yr own plane & crew: cannot fly within Thailand?

mmm, nice tourism-boost!

dude, they are talking about Thai companies hiring pilots. 

 

 

 

 

8 hours ago, IsaanT said:

... until something goes wrong.  Ask Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger (he of the 2009 Hudson river ditching fame).

Fortunately, the "I" in the ICAO pilots standards stands for "International" and, like the UK and most of the rest of the world, Thailand has adopted these standards.

Standards are there for a reason.  It's worth noting that entire countries are prevented from flying into UK airspace because of concerns over their airlines' operations.  These currently include Afghanistan, Angola, Armenia, Democratic Rupubic of Congo, etc.

There are also specific airlines that have serious, identified safety deficiencies themselves, even if their home country's oversight is generally acceptable.  These include:

Iraqi Airways - banned due to serious safety deficiencies)
Avior Airlines (Venezuala) - banned due to unaddressed safety deficiencies
Iran Asemon Airlines - banned
Air Zimbabwe - banned
Iran Air - older aircraft in their fleet are prohibited
Air Koryo (North Korea) - only two specific Russian-built TU-204 aircraft are permitted; all others are banned
Russian Airlines - a large number of Russian-certified airlines are banned due to non-compliance with international standards, particularly following the 2002 'special military operation'

 

 

 

True, we can by choice avoid certain makes of aeroplanes and companies.

 

You mentioned Sully, it was lucky he was also an experienced glider pilot as well as he managed to get rid of speed by 'crabbing' the plane but your are quoting 2009, how may billions of airmails have been flown since then.

 

I worked on a lot of software for aircraft and I would trust the auto systems any day to a pilots decisions in general, most crashes are cause by pilot error. 

 

It is still the safest way to travel, we have a lot more chance of a car accident on the way to the airport that we do on the flight, mile for mile.

 

Although I did jump out of the very first aeroplane which I went in at the age of 19. 

 

 

 

 

14 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

True, we can by choice avoid certain makes of aeroplanes and companies.

 

You mentioned Sully, it was lucky he was also an experienced glider pilot as well as he managed to get rid of speed by 'crabbing' the plane but your are quoting 2009, how may billions of airmails have been flown since then.

 

I worked on a lot of software for aircraft and I would trust the auto systems any day to a pilots decisions in general, most crashes are cause by pilot error. 

 

It is still the safest way to travel, we have a lot more chance of a car accident on the way to the airport that we do on the flight, mile for mile.

 

Although I did jump out of the very first aeroplane which I went in at the age of 19. 

 

 

 

 

 

Three points:

 

1. All pilots know how to glide because they are aware of the aircraft's best glide speed in case the motor(s) stop.

 

2. Crabbing, e.g. combining right rudder and left ailerons, is used to accelerate the rate of descent significantly without increasing airspeed.  It was normal practice before flaps were commonplace but is still very useful.

 

3. No trained pilot jumps out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft...

 

On 11/20/2025 at 1:48 PM, IsaanT said:

 

Three points:

 

1. All pilots know how to glide because they are aware of the aircraft's best glide speed in case the motor(s) stop.

 

2. Crabbing, e.g. combining right rudder and left ailerons, is used to accelerate the rate of descent significantly without increasing airspeed.  It was normal practice before flaps were commonplace but is still very useful.

 

3. No trained pilot jumps out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft...

 

 

True on point 1 and 2, but it was quoted in official reports that Captain Sully did have advanced skill as a glider pilot thus aiding the more severe crabbing he had to do with greater judgment.

 

Plus point 2, pilots can crab right or left depending on the direction of the wind.

 

Point 3. Where did I mention a pilot jumping out of an aircraft in my comment?

 

Why so argumentative, your comments match mine almost and are mostly just a repeat of what I had said. 

 

 

3 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

True on point 1 and 2, but it was quoted in official reports that Captain Sully did have advanced skill as a glider pilot thus aiding the more severe crabbing he had to do with greater judgment.

 

Plus point 2, pilots can crab right or left depending on the direction of the wind.

 

Point 3. Where did I mention a pilot jumping out of an aircraft in my comment?

 

Why so argumentative, your comments match mine almost and are mostly just a repeat of what I had said. 

 

 

I fear you're going to regard me as argumentative (again) but, as an experienced pilot, I feel obliged to clarify things.

The NTSB report (the 'official report') doesn't mention sideslipping.  Furthermore, Capt. Sullenberger specifically stated that he was very focussed on keeping the plane's wings 'exactly level' (as you would when ditching - it would cartwheel the plane if one wingtip went in first).  The wings are definitely not level when sideslipping.

It does mention that his gliding experience helped him to quickly assess that he wouldn't make it back to the airport, thus the river was his only chance and he took it.  However, I'd observe that pilots without gliding experience are capable of the same assessment.

Yes, planes can crab left or right but they invariably do it to the left because the pilot sits on the left and it's very convenient to look out of the left window next to you to see where you're going.  You wouldn't have an effective view if you tried it to the right...  And crabbing has nothing to do with the direction of the wind - the plane's heading does, and you can still steer in a sideslip so a left sideslip can be, and usually is, used at all times.

You didn't mention pilots jumping (or not) out of airplanes; you mentioned that you had.  I was talking from my own perspective.  Apologies if it caused confusion.

I hope this helps.
 

On 11/21/2025 at 11:55 PM, IsaanT said:

I fear you're going to regard me as argumentative (again) but, as an experienced pilot, I feel obliged to clarify things.

The NTSB report (the 'official report') doesn't mention sideslipping.  Furthermore, Capt. Sullenberger specifically stated that he was very focussed on keeping the plane's wings 'exactly level' (as you would when ditching - it would cartwheel the plane if one wingtip went in first).  The wings are definitely not level when sideslipping.

It does mention that his gliding experience helped him to quickly assess that he wouldn't make it back to the airport, thus the river was his only chance and he took it.  However, I'd observe that pilots without gliding experience are capable of the same assessment.

Yes, planes can crab left or right but they invariably do it to the left because the pilot sits on the left and it's very convenient to look out of the left window next to you to see where you're going.  You wouldn't have an effective view if you tried it to the right...  And crabbing has nothing to do with the direction of the wind - the plane's heading does, and you can still steer in a sideslip so a left sideslip can be, and usually is, used at all times.

You didn't mention pilots jumping (or not) out of airplanes; you mentioned that you had.  I was talking from my own perspective.  Apologies if it caused confusion.

I hope this helps.
 

 

A sidestep manoeuvre was definitely used to align the aircraft with the rivers long axis, he knew not to over do it, he levelled the wings just before contact with the water and kept his nose up.

 

The mention of me jumping out was the fact as a teenager I had never been in a plane before and so on this occasion, I got into the Cessna, at 2000 feet I went through the open door and stood on a step outside while holding onto a wing strut and jumped backwards, static line parachute attached to the plane. 

 

Total training for that including the classroom was three hours. 

 

I did fly the same model of plane years later, but I preferred low winged aircraft such at the Piper Warrior.

 

The lessons I enjoyed most were forced landings where we glide in with the engine at idle and then line up over a field and then power on at about 100 feet, and at 3000 feet over uninhabited land turn the engine to idle and hold the plane straight until we actually stall, you feel the wind buffeting the wings so we then do a slight nose dip, power on, then recover the altitude we had lost. 

 

But the favourite were the circuits around the airfield, touch and go, I could have done that all day. I like it when there was a cross wind, rudder in the opposite direction to the wind and turn into the wind with the ailerons. 

 

Oh yes, and you are right about the crabbing to the left for a better vision, I forgot that bit. 👍

 

I have always like aircraft and did some of the software in the UK for the F16 head-up-display-system also for the A10 Warthog. 

 

 

Another case of Paranoid Xenophobia as exhibited by almost all Thai politicians and law makers.

 

They know that the foreigners are way above the Thai level, and are very scared of it.