CAAT says Nok Air can hire foreign pilots to ease its pilot shortage problem



BANGKOK: -- The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has no objection to Nok Air’s plan to hire foreign pilots to solve its pilot shortage problem providing that the replacements must not exceed 40 percent of the pilots under employment in an airline and there are work permits for the foreign pilots.

CAAT director general Chula Sukmanop said Nok Air had sought permission to bring in foreign pilots to ease pilot shortage at the airline on temporary basis while the airline is recruit new pilots.

Although piloting is reserved profession for Thais, he said there is no law against the hiring of foreign pilots to work here providing that they must have work permits from the Labour Ministry.

However, he pointed out that foreign pilots might, in the long run, cause financial problem for the airlines which hired them because their pay is much higher than local pilots.

Mr Chula said work stoppage by pilots at Nok Air resulting to flight cancellations stemmed from the airline’s management problem. The airline, he added, is yet to submit its contingency plan to deal with sudden flight cancellation to his office for consideration.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/153057


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-02

How painful if must be for them to admit to needing pesky foreigners!!! Must have destroyed many egos!

This will upset all the local truck drivers who have aspirations to drive a plane.

"Although ......... is a reserved profession for Thais, he said there is no law against the hiring of foreign......."

Best piece of news in a long time

... However, he pointed out that foreign pilots might, in the long run, cause financial problem for the airlines which hired them because their pay is much higher than local pilots. ...

The crux of the issue. If they paid local professionals the same as foreign professionals, they wouldn't need to hire foreign professionals.

The floodgates are now open for a planeload of overpaid, inexperienced and relatively unqualified Indonesian pilots.

Hiring foreign pilots does not guarantee a save flying.Many of these "pilots" will be flying the "Parker Pen" to gain enough flight time to qualify for a commercial licensee.A lot of these "pilots" will be washouts and low timers that can not get a flying job on a proper airlines.

"Although ......... is a reserved profession for Thais, he said there is no law against the hiring of foreign......."

Best piece of news in a long time

Yes,........... of course you can hire them...........but they can't actually work.

Piloting is reserved for Thai's, but no law prevents airlines hiring foreign pilots. Huh?

Hiring foreign pilots does not guarantee a save flying.Many of these "pilots" will be flying the "Parker Pen" to gain enough flight time to qualify for a commercial licensee.A lot of these "pilots" will be washouts and low timers that can not get a flying job on a proper airlines.

OK, I give up - what does ,"flying the Parker Pen" mean?

:)

No shortage of Indian pilots.

Parker Pen? No idea

The Parker Pen refers to people writing in the flight time in their logbooks when they really have not flown. Nasty common practice to make CV's look better to get a job or promotion.