RAWALPINDI: The Aircraft Owners and Operators Association (AOOA) has criticised the hiring practices of local airlines, especially their preference for foreign pilots over hundreds of local and unemployed aviators.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the AOOA said this trend not only sidelined hundreds of Pakistani pilots but also resulted in substantial financial implications, as international pilots were reportedly receiving salaries ranging between $9,500 and $15,000, payable in foreign currency.

This practice resulted in a significant outflow of dollars from the nation, the association pointed out, asking local airlines to employ domestic pilots.

It also alleged that these foreign pilots were benefiting from tax exemptions, a matter it suggested should warrant scrutiny from the Federal Board of Revenue and intervention by the government.

The AOOA also accused the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) of regulatory breaches, stating that the authority had allowed foreign pilots to operate within the country for periods extending beyond 12 months, contrary to the stipulated maximum time of three months.

It also claimed that foreign pilots were reportedly working without proper work visas, adding: “We demand the FIA to investigate the permission of foreign pilots to fly without a visa.”

Highlighting the plight of over 800 local pilots currently without employment, the AOOA questioned the rationale behind spending valuable foreign exchange reserves on international pilots.

The association warned that such an “illegal move” might attract objections from international regulatory bodies like the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2024