pilots

  • Thailand NewsThai pilots oppose foreign pilots on domestic routes amid tourism surge

    Thai pilots oppose foreign pilots on domestic routes amid tourism surge

    The Thai Pilots Association has taken a definitive stance against the recent Cabinet decision allowing foreign pilots to operate domestic routes through wet lease agreements. Yesterday, December 6, they formally petitioned the Labour and Transport ministries to reconsider the move, which was introduced to address a perceived shortage of commercial pilots amid a surge in tourism activity. The Cabinet’s decision,…

  • Thailand NewsThai Pilots Association opposes eased restrictions for foreign pilots

    Thai Pilots Association opposes eased restrictions for foreign pilots

    The Thai Pilots Association vehemently opposed a controversial government proposal to ease restrictions on foreign pilots flying with Thai carriers temporarily. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently pinpointed the slow resumption of flights as a significant hurdle for Thailand’s tourism sector. Post-pandemic personnel shortages are a global issue, but the prime minister believes Thailand needs a quick fix. During a visit…

  • Thailand NewsHong Kong’s Cathay Pacific flight cancellations spark inquiry

    Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific flight cancellations spark inquiry

    Cathay Pacific Airways finds itself stuck on the runway as the pilots’ union demands a government investigation into the airline’s chaotic flight cancellations. The blame game points directly to severe job cuts made during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Paul Weatherill, Chairman of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, states that Cathay’s current plight, rooted in the decisions made…

  • Business NewsHigh-flying headache: Aviation industry faces pilot pinch, needs 650,000 in 20 years

    High-flying headache: Aviation industry faces pilot pinch, needs 650,000 in 20 years

    The aviation industry is currently grappling with a global pilot shortage, with an estimated 650,000 pilots required over the next two decades, as per data from the Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA). The dearth of pilots is attributed to a scarcity of flight instructors worldwide, said Abdulla Al Hammadi, EFTA’S vice president. The industry is highly competitive, with airlines recruiting…

  • Covid-19 News3 Cathay Pacific pilots broke Covid-19 rules, got fired and infected

    3 Cathay Pacific pilots broke Covid-19 rules, got fired and infected

    After what Cathay Pacific described as a serious breach of pandemic regulations, 3 cargo pilots were fired after becoming infected with Covid-19 and putting many others at risk. An internal investigation found the pilots for Hong Kong’s flagship airline broke Covid-19 safety rules while abroad in Frankfurt, Germany. The airline is known for being very proactive about Covid-19 safety and…

  • Thailand NewsThai Airways lays off hundreds of pilots under debt rehabilitation plan

    Thai Airways lays off hundreds of pilots under debt rehabilitation plan

    Hundreds of pilots will be laid off under Thai Airway’s debt rehabilitation plan. The cash-strapped airline, which is buried in a debt around 300 billion baht, has also decided to ground 3 types of aircrafts: the Airbus A330-300 and A380, and the Boeing 747. After months of tackling bankruptcy amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Thai Airways decided to lay off 395…

  • Northern Thailand NewsNorth East aviation college faces funding shortfall and allegations of corruption

    North East aviation college faces funding shortfall and allegations of corruption

    Almost 200 million baht has “disappeared” from the bank account of the International Aviation College, part of the Nakhon Phanom University. They’ve now approached the Thai government for support to help tackle its liquidity problems. Without an injection of cash the aviation college may have to close down. The IAC has trained thousands of Thailand’s commercial pilots in one of the…

  • World NewsEU temporarily bans flights from Pakistan International Airlines

    EU temporarily bans flights from Pakistan International Airlines

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has announced today that Pakistan International Airlines would not be allowed to fly to Europe for at least six months after the country ‘s aviation minister revealed that nearly a third of Pakistani pilots had cheated during their pilot tests. Pakistan International Airlines spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez said that because of the pandemic, PIA has…

  • World NewsPakistan airlines cleans house after the pilot license cheating scandal

    Pakistan airlines cleans house after the pilot license cheating scandal

    In the wake of a deadly Pakistan plane crash, the country’s flagship carrier, PIA, says they may let go more than 150 pilots after finding many have allegedly faked their own licenses. The government says that pilots both inside and outside the airline had allegedly allowed other people to take their exams in order to keep their flying licenses. Now, those…

  • World NewsPakistani plane crash “due to pilot error”

    Pakistani plane crash “due to pilot error”

    A preliminary report over last month’s Pakistani plane crash reveals the pilots made errors that caused them to crash the plane, resulting in the loss of 98 lives. The pilots were reportedly distracted as they were chit-chatting about the coronavirus and didn’t even bother to lower the plane’s landing gear. Furthermore, they tried to land the aircraft when they were…

  • Thailand NewsAirlines snubbing Thai graduate pilots

    Airlines snubbing Thai graduate pilots

    Thai pilots are having a hard time finding work after graduation despite high global demand. This from Thai Civil Aviation Training Centre’s president Piya Atmungkun. Between 600 to 700 newly graduated Thai airline pilots are now struggling to find work in the local airline industry. “International airlines are competing to offer jobs to pilots, but “our pilots find no jobs. Aviation…

  • Hot NewsBoeing knew about problems with 737 Max 8 jets before second crash

    Boeing knew about problems with 737 Max 8 jets before second crash

    PHOTO: American Airlines They knew because plenty of pilots told them, on tape. In the months between the two Boeing 737 Max airplane crashes, pilots from American Airlines confronted a Boeing official about the controversial MCAS computerised anti-stall system that preliminary reports have now implicated in both deadly wrecks. The audio of the meeting has been obtained by the US’…