New Delhi: To bridge the pilot shortage it
faces at present, the IAF has increased the number of recruits
in its pilot training institution to fill the gaps when future
inductions begin, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said on Friday.
But Naik said the shortfall in the number of pilots was
not "alarming" and it could be meet.
"At the present moment, there is shortage (of pilots). But
it is not alarming. Plans (to meet the shortfall) is already
existing and they have been reactivated and energised," he
said here.
The pilots training institutions, which were hitherto
admitting about 190 or 200 pilots annually, has recently
increased the intake to 260, he added.
He said the move to increase the number of pilot trainees
was to meet future demands, when more twin-seater Sukhoi
aircraft are inducted into the IAF. "When this (Sukhoi
induction) happens, we would require more pilots in the
future," he told a private TV channel.
Naik said the IAF had also opened up the Short Service
Commission (SSC) into flying branch, which was only open to
women officer recruits, to men SSC recruits too.
"The fast track recruitment for SSC are also on the cards.
These measures have been taken because when crunch comes, we
are not found lacking," he added.
The IAF has about 1,500 pilots in all streams of flying
branch, but is short from by about 300 pilots. Future
inductions include about 250 Sukhois, and 126 Medium Multi-
Role Combat Aircraft for which the tendering process is
currently in progress.
Bureau Report
