SriLankan Airlines reiterates no compromise on safety

Thursday, 7 March 2013 01:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SriLankan Airlines said yesterday it has been facing a shortage of qualified local type-rated pilots in keeping with the expanding network, increased frequencies and potential new destinations. Frequent shortfalls have resulted in the scheduling of captains in place of first officers and the hiring of direct entry expatriate first officers, at a higher cost to the airline.

At no time did the company compromise on safety when, as a proactive initiative, to address the shortage of first officers in a timely manner, the management requested the revision of the cut-off mark of the simulator evaluation short-listing criteria in the recruitment process for admission to its Cadet Pilot Training program.

The spirit of this request was to offer opportunities to a greater number of suitably qualified Sri Lankan citizens to follow the SriLankan Airlines Cadet Pilot Training program. The Cadet Pilot Training program is developed by SriLankan Airlines Flight Operations Training Section and is approved by the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka. At no time has the management of SriLankan Airlines requested any revision to the said training program.

All cadet pilots recruited to SriLankan Airlines are trained by the airline’s most experienced instructor pilots, who are globally renowned for maintaining the highest industry standards, and the airline has the confidence that any cadet pilot graduating from this program will continue to be of the same high standard.

The request by the management was specifically to provide for a larger intake of suitably qualified Sri Lankan nationals, and afford them the opportunity to follow the program and qualify to be type-rated first officers. The request also conforms to the Government policy of enabling more employment opportunities to Sri Lankan citizens which in return will deliver greater benefit for all stakeholders including the long term interest of the airline and the country.

SriLankan wishes to reiterate that the revision of the short-listing criteria requested by the airline does not in any way affect the safety and protection of the flying public, as all cadets follow an in-depth training program and are required to meet the exacting standard set by the airline and approved by the Civil Aviation Authority prior to being commissioned as qualified co-pilots.