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==2018>2019: Number of expat pilots soars by 176% ==
[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F03%2F07&entity=Ar02016&sk=6868D59B&mode=text  Chethan Kumar, March 7, 2020: ''The Times of India'']
[[File: Expat pilots in India, 2018-2019.jpg|Expat pilots in India, 2018>2019 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F03%2F07&entity=Ar02016&sk=6868D59B&mode=text  Chethan Kumar, March 7, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]

The number of foreign pilots commanding aircraft operated by Indian airlines rose 176% in 2019 to 892 from 323 in 2018. These pilots are given what the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) terms FATA (foreign aircrew temporary authorisation), which allows them to fly in India.

Country-wise data made public by the DGCA shows that of the 892 FATAs issued in 2019, at least 151, or 17%, were given to pilots from Iran, 100 to European countries, 71 to Brazil and 50 to the US.
Pilots from 69 countries obtained FATA from DGCA. India has also welcomed pilots from Mexico (49), Myanmar (45), Honduras (31), Cuba
(39), Nepal (27), Ukraine (20) and the African nations (19).

Given the perpetual shortage in type-rated pilotsin-command or commanders in the country, the number of FATAs issued by DGCA has been increasing by the year, and 2019 saw the highest jump in recent years.

From 139 in 2016, the number of FATAs increased to 184 in 2017 and jumped to 323 in 2018. “The provision of FATA, which was extended by two years in 2018, will expire in December 2020,” the DGCA says. The total number of FATAs issued in the past four years stands at 1,538.
While an airline-wise data for the same was not available, aviation expert Devesh Agarwal said: “If you look at the influx of aircraft as planned by airlines, you will see that there will be an increase in ATRs, A320 and Bombardier q-400, among others. We don’t have enough commanders for these types of aircraft and I don’t see this to be alarming. An estimate going by the number of hours a pilot can fly and the number of hours one aircraft is used per year, you will see that each plane would need at least five commanders.”

The DGCA has not maintained information for years preceding 2016, but data for 2016-2019 shows the maximum number of pilots came from European countries. Iran stands out as a single country sending most number of pilots, followed by the US.

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