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Foreign pilots intending to work in Indonesia face fresh restrictions as the government plans to limit the employment of copilots with the relevant aircraft type rating to two years and captains to three years.
Authorities plan to impose the policy in an effort to open employment for local jobless pilots and help those with experience to gain seniority.
According to Ministry of Transport (MOT) official Robi Ihsan, while the authorities recognize the need for rapidly expanding carriers to hire experienced foreign pilots, the government also must consider the wider social benefits of employing Indonesian graduates.
Ihsan said the presence of local pilots not only engenders pride but also keeps costs in check.
The ruling will exempt foreign instructors hired by flying schools, helicopter pilots, and pilots working in remote parts of the country. Ihsan said authorities haven’t yet finalized all the terms of the policy, but they will give ample notice of its implementation once they decide the date.
While the ranks of the unemployed in Indonesia include about 550 local pilots, foreign flight crew account for about 11 percent of the estimated 4,800 employed in the industry. The country’s 16 flying schools produce about 160 graduates every year.
A senior airline pilot who spoke with AIN on condition of anonymity said airlines would hire local graduates if they passed the carriers’ pre-entry requirements.
“Local graduates have first to enhance their knowledge and skills before seeking employment,” he pointed out. While he acknowledged that foreign pilots cost more to hire, they tend to bring the necessary experience, he added.
The MOT has begun reviewing each airline’s personnel needs and criteria for hiring foreign pilots.
Even with a growing pilot shortage challenging airlines all over the world, foreign "expat" airline pilots intending to work in Indonesia face fresh restrictions. The government has plans to limit the employment of copilots to two years and captains to three years. The ruling applies to pilots with type ratings in their specific aircraft, but is expected to exempt foreign instructors hired by flying schools, helicopter pilots, and pilots working in remote parts of the country. Ministry of Transport (MOT) official Robi Ihsan said authorities haven’t yet finalized all the terms of the policy, but they will give ample notice of its implementation once they decide the date.
While the ranks of the unemployed in Indonesia include about 550 local pilots, foreign flight crewmembers account for about 11 percent of the estimated 4,800 employed in the industry. The country’s 16 flying schools produce about 160 graduates every year.
Indonesia's national unemployment rate is currently 5.34 percent, up from 5.13 percent in January 2018. That represents some 6.87 million people out of work. Since 1982, the unemployment rate has reached a peak at 11.2 percent in 2005, with the lowest quarterly accounting at 2 percent around 1985. Indonesia, a member of G20 and classified as a newly industrialized country, is considered to be the largest economy in Southeast Asia and one of the emerging market economies of the world. It represents the 16th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP.
Authorities plan to impose the restrictions in an effort to boost employment opportunities for local pilots who are beginning their careers and help those with experience to gain seniority.
According to Ihsan, the authorities recognize the need for rapidly expanding carriers to hire experienced foreign pilots, however the government also must consider the wider social benefits of employing Indonesian graduates. Ihsan said the presence of local pilots not only engenders pride but also keeps costs in check.
A senior airline pilot who spoke with AIN on condition of anonymity said, “Local graduates have first to enhance their knowledge and skills before seeking employment.” While he acknowledged that foreign pilots cost more to hire, they also bring the necessary experience. The MOT has begun reviewing each airline’s personnel needs and criteria for hiring foreign pilots.