Islamabad, Jan 2: The Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Nadir Shafi Dar, announced a groundbreaking plan to export surplus Pakistani pilots to international airlines, addressing the regional shortage of cockpit professionals.
Pilot Export Initiative:
- Surplus Pilots: With local demand for pilots being met, the CAA aims to provide trained pilots for employment abroad.
- Partnerships: Agreements have been signed with international companies to offer comprehensive training, from ground lessons to commercial operations.
Key Developments:
- A foreign company has already initiated Phase 1 training, sending young Pakistani candidates to its academy in Sharjah for aircraft flight training.
- Eight trained pilots have returned and joined private airlines in Pakistan.
- Plans are underway to establish local training academies with financial support for aspiring pilots.
Cost and Support:
- Training a new pilot, including initial flying hours, costs approximately PKR 10 to 15 million.
- Local flying clubs are being encouraged to enhance capabilities to meet future training demands.
This initiative is expected to boost Pakistan’s aviation industry and strengthen its global footprint in aviation talent.
