IAF pilots may bail out Alliance Air

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is willing to bail out Alliance Air to improve air connectivity in the North Eastern Region (NER) by supplying the Airline with its pilots and technicians, albeit on the condition that their personnel are given a good deal. Reeling under acute shortages of pilots, the Alliance Air had tried out various options like hiring foreign pilots to improve the regional air service in the North-east. Finally, it came around to the idea floated by the Parliamentary Panel to ask the Indian Air Force for help. The Airline had been laying the blame for its poor service in the Region to shortages of pilots and technicians.
Part of the problem was also because of the reluctance of the Airline to make Guwahati its hub of operations.
The Ministry of Defence has informed Ministry Development of North Eastern Region, which is finalising its proposal, that Indian Air Force has a vast pool of trained pilots and technical support staff who could be spared for gainful utilisation by Indian Airlines or Alliance Air only on permanent absorption basis.
According to its plans to develop the civil aviation sector in the North-east, the Ministry had appointed Foundation for Aviation and Sustainable Tourism (FAST) to prepare a feasibility study. Acting on its recommendations, the 53rd NEC meeting cleared the proposal to operate dedicated airlines in the Region.
Meanwhile, the proposal for opening a pilot training institute is alive.
12/05/07 Kalyan Barooah/Assam Tribune

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