Mohamad Taufek Abd Ghani |
| Posted: 16 Aug 2012 08:45 PM PDT   |
| 1,174 trained pilots fail to land a career Posted: 16 Aug 2012 08:43 PM PDT PETALING JAYA (Aug 15, 2012): With more Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) holders than jobs as pilots available, Malaysia is seeing a glut of flyers. According to the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), there are 1,174 young pilots, who have graduated with CPLs who have yet to find their dream job. To help unemployed CPL holders, the DCA recently set up a registry on its website for them to advertise their availability to prospective employers within the aviation industry. The glut is apparently a result of the mushrooming of Approved Flying Training Organisations (AFTO) around the country. The cost of training at such AFTOs is between RM250,000 and RM270,000 per person over a period of two to three years. There are currently five AFTOs in the country, down from eight in 2005, as three have since closed. Commenting on the high number of unemployed CPL holders, DCA director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said in the current market, there are more pilots than the jobs offered. He attributed the situation to: >failing global economy due to high prices of oil; >bad planning, and >the employment of foreign pilots by local airlines. The discrepancy between pilots and jobs was caused by the high demand for pilots in early 2000, which in turn resulted in a high number of AFTOs and trained pilots in 2005, he said. "This was based on the forecasts made predicting a demand of 185,600 pilots in Asia Pacific for the period of 2012 to 2031," he said. "However, the global airline industry took a downturn from 2009 to 2011, prompting airlines to review their operations because of escalating fuel prices. As a result, the demand for pilots dropped." Commenting on the employment of foreign pilots, mostly as captains, Azharuddin said local airlines are being required to plan for the promotion of qualified Malaysian First Officers to take over from foreign captains. "This is being done in stages but will probably take three years," he said. Meanwhile, Azharuddin advised jobless CPL holders not to be choosy and take up other opportunities in the aviation industry that may be available in the shrinking job market. He said there are job opportunities for them in general aviation, and overseas, as well as at AFTOs as trainers. "Those who are financially able should also consider converting to helicopter pilot licences as there is still a shortage of helicopter pilots in the country," he added. Azharuddin also explained that the authorities would not limit or reduce the number of AFTOs or the intake of student pilots as they are private entities which do not receive any subsidy or assistance from the government.  |
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