* Onyema
The Chairman of Air Peace, Dr. Allen Onyema has decried the growing cases of pilot poaching despite the existence of a contractual agreement.
While accusing some airlines of encouraging the practice, he called on the industry regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to look into the matter as it is seriously affecting airlines.
Onyema disclosed this at the Day 2 of the just concluded Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) National Aviation Conference (FNAC)with the theme, “Elevating the Nigerian Aviation Industry Through Investment, Partnership and Global Engagements”.
Onyema, a panelist at the event while speaking on the topic, Trust ,Safety and Governance: Reinforcing Confidence in Nigeria’s Skies” said that poaching of pilots is now very prevalent and affecting airlines seriously.
He contended that it takes over N15 million to train a pilot ,adding that a situation where pilots that have been trained by an airline will leave the airline after they have been heavily invested in by the airline is not good for the sector.
He called on the NCAA to urgently look into the matter , as according to him, it is getting out of hand .
The Air Peace boss lamented that the funniest thing is that these pilots leave despite the existing bond that they have signed with the airline that spent huge amount of money to train them.
He pointed out that some of these pilots are enticed by little increment in their salaries .
In view of the prevalence of poaching of pilots in the industry, the Air Peace boss vow that the airline will not type-rate any pilot or pilots henceforth.
He pointed out that it is most painful for pilots that an airline has invested heavily in by way of training and development to be poached by another airline or airlines despite the agreement they have signed.
He, however commended Qatar Airways, for demanding for a letter of discharge from pilots that intends to work for the carrier.
According to him, We are not going to type-rate anybody again.”
He called for a holistic approach to the address problem so as to discourage airlines from poaching each others pilots.
“If any pilot sign a contract or bond, let them live by the contract,” Onyema said.
Onyema, who is also the Vice President of Airline Operator of Nigeria (AON) argued that a situation where pilots, trained by one airline, leave to join another airline is a breach of their contractual agreements
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