Indian Expats Barred from Right-Seat Slots

A recent ruling by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will bar expatriates from holding right-seat airline positions beginning this month. Expatriates can still apply for captain positions, but right-seat pilots will lose their FATA (Foreign Air pilots Temporary Authority), which allows them to operate in India on the validity of their national licenses. The rule comes in response to the large number of Indian nationals coming out of flight schools in other countries. Indian Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel is pressing for the rule to be applied only to expatriates who apply after the deadline.