Garuda Indonesia seeking foreign pilots

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 08/24/2010 9:00 PM

State-owned airline Garuda Indonesia is seeking 70 international pilots to develop its training program. The search will last until end of this year.

“The foreign pilots will be brought to Indonesia to help us train new pilot candidates. Hopefully the new pilots will be able operate our aircraft by next year,” operational director Ari Sapari said Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Indonesia’s aviation industry is faced with a shortage of pilots because of an increase in available aircraft.

The government has issued policies to help the industry grow, including allowing recruitment of foreign pilots and extending the pilot retirement age to 60.

Garuda had 670 pilots and co-pilots in 2009. This year the company is expecting 851 pilots and co-pilots to operate its 67 airplanes.