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Thai Airways, Thai Smile Praise Proposed Measures to Solve Pilot Shortages
7th Sep 2016
Thai Airways International (THAI) and its subsidiary Thai Smile both welcomed the proposed use of Section 44 of the interim charter, which should address pilot and other aviation personnel shortages in Thailand.
Charamporn Jotikasthira, President of THAI said the proposed Section 44 should help solve pilot shortages, as Thai-based airlines face strong competition in the aviation industry today.
A source at THAI also said that, while the airline itself does not have a problem with pilot shortages, the measure will be useful in helping with HR management.
The problem, however, is that the proposed measure could affect assistant pilots and their career paths, said the same source, so it would have to be carefully considered.
Acting chief executive officer at THAI Smile Airways Woranate Laprabang welcomed the proposed Section 44, saying it is the best news possible and also a good start to solve the personnel shortage problem in the industry.
Mr Laprabang also said that THAI Smile previously petitioned the Thailand authorities to extend retirement age to 65, but were unsuccessful in this. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand’s regulations, the retirement age is 65, however the obligatory retirement age for state enterprise staff is 60 years.
Mr Laprabang said:
The 60-year-old pilots are considered top-quality and highly experienced personnel. They are sought after by commercial airlines who don't have to train their own.
Acting director of Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, Chula Sukmanop also added his two coins, saying that Section 44 will speed up the legal amendment process, which would otherwise take months. Mr Sukmanop also said the measure will also ease difficulties as personnel training would be completed to meet demand.
Section 44 is set for 2016 to 2019. It would allow previously retired, but qualified personnel to be rehired by government agencies and state enterprises working in the aviation industry for a set period of time.
Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong said the measure would address the fact that there are not enough qualified pilots, captains, pilot instructors, ground personnel and flight engineers. He is considering asking Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to invoke Section 44.
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