In a written reply, he said the government has decided to upgrade the capacity of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademy from 40 to 100 cadets a year and has set up a new flying Training Institute at Gondia in Maharashtra.
Besides, it has also conditionally increased the age limit for pilots to 65 years for exercising the privileges of their licences for commercial transport operations under prescribed conditions, he said.
Further, he said aircraft operators both scheduled and non-scheduled are permitted to employ foreign pilots as commanders to train Indian co-pilots so as to enable them being upgraded as Commanders.
However, Patel said whenever both the Commander and Co-pilot in a flight are of foreign origin, they are required to carry an Indian trainee pilot on board for exposing the latter to the line oriented flying training.
Replying to another question, Patel said the Aeronautical Society of India has recommended constitution of a National Aeronautic Commission though no decision has been taken by the government in this regard so far.
The Minister informed the Upper House that a total of 1,147 flights are being operated by Indian carriers on daily basis.
The 12 airlines are: Air India Limited (37), Air India Charters (07), Indian Air Lines (58), Alliance Air (15), Jet Airways (55), Sahara Airlines (29), Deccan Aviation Pvt Ltd (33), Kingfisher Airlines Ltd (15), Spicejet ltd (six), Paramount Airwaysd Pvt Ltd (2), Blue Dart Aviation Ltd Cargo (07), and Go Airlines (India) Pvt Ltd (3).
To a question on delay of flights, he said 58.55 per cent Indian Airlines flights were on time during the last three months (April-June).
Of the 41.45 per cent delays and cancellation, 2.86 per cent were due to commercial operations, engineering, ground support, surface transport, stores related reasons, 2.30 per cent due to inclement weather, airport facilities etc, and the remaining 36.29 per cent were due to consequential delays.
About complaints regarding functioning of private airlines, Patel said they were regarding missing/lost baggage, refund of tickets in case of delays/cancellations, denial of facilities like wheel chair, meals/snacks in case of delayed flights, etc.
