Indonesia Needs Around 500 Pilots Annually

Tasikmalaya, West Java (Antara) - Indonesia needs an increase of pilots ranging from 500 to 600 for commercial flights annually, deputy Air Force chief of staff, Vice Marchall Sunaryo said. The current pilot schools in Indonesia haven't been able to meet the demand for the number of pilots, so that Indonesia still needs foreign pilots, Sunaryo said here on Saturday after attending the inauguration of the Dirgantara Pilot School Tasikmalaya (DPST). "Some of Indonesian airlines prefer using foreign pilots," he disclosed. Meanwhile, Air transportation director general of Transportation Ministry, Herry Bakti said that Indonesia should reduce its dependency on foreign pilots. According to him, Indonesia with its current 18 flight training courses could produce 250 pilots annually. Herry expressed hope that the Dirgantara Pilot School in Tasikmalaya can increase the amount of Indonesian pilots. (*)