Better Money To Be Had Working For Airlines

The Indian Air Force has a problem. So many of its pilots want to quit the service, it would face a serious manpower shortage -- and national security would be compromised -- if they all had their wish.

"If we do this (relieve every pilot who wishes to leave), national security will be impaired and that is not acceptable," IAF Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi told India's DNA news service.

Media reports over the past few weeks have stated as many as 200 IAF pilots want to leave the service. Why? Commercial pilot jobs pay better... a LOT better... than the military, and offer a much more attractive lifestyle.

But the IAF says it can't afford to lose so many pilots -- and is making every effort to quash pilot's plans to ditch their duty.

Tyagi added a proposed compromise... requiring pilots to pay a lump sum back to the military to cover their training costs... wouldn't do any good, as the air force would still be faced with having too few pilots.

"Then, if after all this training, supposing I accept the money. What do I do with it?" asked Tyagi. "I have relieved someone with five to 10 years of training. It will take me another five to 10 years to train another pilot. Those are my difficulties."

"I want my boys to get more money but I don't know how to run the air force and get them Jet Airways salaries," Tyagi added.

The Air Chief also pointed out that pilots join the military with "their eyes open"... and can't complain later about poor salaries or harsh service conditions.

This is the contract... The contract is that you will serve till the president of India so desires," Tyagi said. "You join at a particular salary, you join with these conditions -- have I broken that contract? No."

FMI: http://indianairforce.nic.in/