Maldivian airline announces pilot recruitment

Island Aviation Services (IAS), the operator of the national airline ‘Maldivian’, has initiated a recruitment drive for pilots, a move that comes despite a significant number of unemployed pilots within the Maldives.

The nation currently faces a surplus of approximately 200 unemployed individuals who have acquired aviation licenses, a field of education known for its high costs.

On Thursday, Island Aviation announced openings for an A320 Captain and an A330 First Officer. The job announcement details the requirements and benefits for both positions, with online applications now open.

Previously, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen stated that the current government does not anticipate opening further opportunities for pilot training. He cited the country's greater need for workers in other sectors over additional cadet pilots.

However, Minister Ameen clarified that the government would not impede students who have already received scholarships from pursuing their aviation careers. He emphasized that producing more pilots is not advisable given the current limited employment opportunities.

Ameen noted that no airline in the Maldives can operate solely with cadet pilots. He also highlighted that, in his extensive aviation career, he has not observed any Maldivian cadet pilots being employed by other countries. Conversely, he acknowledged that experienced pilots and captains, including Maldivians, have secured positions internationally.

The role of a cadet pilot is primarily a training position. Maldivian airlines, such as Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) and Maldivian, can accommodate a very limited number of cadet pilots for training, typically around 20-25 annually. This constraint contributes to a substantial backlog of unemployed pilot graduates, as the supply of trained pilots significantly outweighs the demand for new recruits.

Minister Ameen had said that Maldives' aviation growth stands at 7.5 percent.