Still many unemployed pilots in Malaysia
There is not much movement in the labour market for pilots in Malaysia despite a rapid growth of low-budget airlines. The number of unemployed licensed pilots in Malaysia as of August 2012 stood at 1,174 and has been at a similar level in 2013 so far, according to the Department of Civil Aviation.
In early 2000, there was a sudden high demand for pilots by Malaysia Airlines that Malaysia’s only flying academy at the time was not able to cope, which triggered the launch of locally approved flying training organisations that have been producing pilots.
In 2005, there were eight such training centers in Malaysia but three were revoked in 2011 for non-compliance of technical requirements. Each center were at one time capable of producing 50-60 pilots annually.
In 2011, the global aviation industry faced a spiral downturn with the rise of fuel prices. This resulted in airlines cutting down routes, not buying new aircraft and even grounding their aircraft to review operations, with no expansion. In Malaysia, economic uncertainties also affected local airlines which led to less demand for pilots which was only partially compensated by new or expanding budget carriers.
To qualify as an airline pilot, privately funded students have to pay at least 250,000 ringgit (around $80,000), and just few good students will be taken as cadets and sponsored by the airlines.
To address the unemployment issue, the department has now set up a registration center on it website to help those who are unable to get employment. Some pilots have also gone to work overseas, for example to Indonesia, and a few have become flying instructors at flying schools. Some had also converted their license for helicopter flying.
Student intake at the flying schools had also been reduced due to the lack of job opportunities. This has also driven the schools to look at the China market for students as the demand for pilots there is still very high.
There is not much movement in the labour market for pilots in Malaysia despite a rapid growth of low-budget airlines. The number of unemployed licensed pilots in Malaysia as of August 2012 stood at 1,174 and has been at a similar level in 2013 so far, according to the Department of Civil Aviation. In early 2000, there was a sudden high demand for pilots by Malaysia Airlines that Malaysia's only flying academy at the time was not able to cope, which triggered the launch of locally approved flying training organisations that have been producing pilots. In 2005, there were eight such...
There is not much movement in the labour market for pilots in Malaysia despite a rapid growth of low-budget airlines. The number of unemployed licensed pilots in Malaysia as of August 2012 stood at 1,174 and has been at a similar level in 2013 so far, according to the Department of Civil Aviation.
In early 2000, there was a sudden high demand for pilots by Malaysia Airlines that Malaysia’s only flying academy at the time was not able to cope, which triggered the launch of locally approved flying training organisations that have been producing pilots.
In 2005, there were eight such training centers in Malaysia but three were revoked in 2011 for non-compliance of technical requirements. Each center were at one time capable of producing 50-60 pilots annually.
In 2011, the global aviation industry faced a spiral downturn with the rise of fuel prices. This resulted in airlines cutting down routes, not buying new aircraft and even grounding their aircraft to review operations, with no expansion. In Malaysia, economic uncertainties also affected local airlines which led to less demand for pilots which was only partially compensated by new or expanding budget carriers.
To qualify as an airline pilot, privately funded students have to pay at least 250,000 ringgit (around $80,000), and just few good students will be taken as cadets and sponsored by the airlines.
To address the unemployment issue, the department has now set up a registration center on it website to help those who are unable to get employment. Some pilots have also gone to work overseas, for example to Indonesia, and a few have become flying instructors at flying schools. Some had also converted their license for helicopter flying.
Student intake at the flying schools had also been reduced due to the lack of job opportunities. This has also driven the schools to look at the China market for students as the demand for pilots there is still very high.
