Airline scouts for pilots

By OBSERVER News - Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – As it scouts for pilots from the region, India’s second-largest low-cost airline SpiceJet has assured carriers operating here that it is not trying to siphon off their more experienced workers.

SpiceJet’s Executive Recruiter Alex Sani, who is in Antigua & Barbuda for a week, was speaking yesterday on the OBSERVER AM programme.

“Those guys who are close to retirement we are telling them stay put and enjoy their retirement. It’s the young ones that we are looking to give an opportunity,” Sani explained.

He said the Indian carrier, which began service in 2005, is offering very attractive employment packages that allow expatriate pilots to see their families often.

“Ten weeks on, four weeks off. We provide them return tickets to their home base or any country they wish to go to. So this is very exciting,” he noted.

Sani said the pilots are needed for the 30 Dash8s which SpiceJet has on order. He explained that the captains and first officers recruited will however need additional training.

“They are flying Dash 8-300 but we are operating the Dash 8 Q-400. So they just need to go for a conversion course and then the rest of the training is provided in India. The terrain is different as well. They will also have to do a different annual exam in India.

Using 26 Boeing 737-800, SpiceJet operates over 243 flights daily to 31 Indian cities and is expanding internationally.

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