Why Does AssIA Destest SG Pilots So Much, Just Like FAP Traitors Hating SGs?

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

DOES SIA PRACTISE SINGAPOREANS-FIRST POLICY IN HIRING PILOTS?



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Post date:
7 Dec 2014 - 8:45am












Dear Gilbert

I refer to two articles posted on your website “insufficient employment protection for local commercial pilots” and “letter of appeal to Prime Minister’s office for the job security of SIA pilots.”

From the two articles, most people would have an idea how rough and tedious a pilot’s career can be, particularly in Singapore.

Typically, most if not all Singaporeans would join Singapore Airlines or Singapore Air Force to kick start their flying career. Due to strict selection, not many Singaporeans are selected for the Air Force. Having to say that, Singaporeans can still opt to join SQ at 26 years old.

To gain cadetship with Singapore Airlines is not a walk in the park. For start, as a Singaporean, you would be competing with other nationalities from India, Malaysia or even Hongkong.

In terms of age (ALL foreigners can join SQ as young as 18), prospects and liabilities such as NS Reservists, we have already lost at the starting line. Singapore Airlines is probably the one and only national airline that offers cadetship to other nationalities.

Is our country really lacking in “aviation-passionate” people or talented people who want to be pilots? I doubt so.

Most countries implement “Locals First” policy particularly in this industry due to limited jobs. We do not have to look far for a good example. Our neighbour, Malaysia has drastically reduced the number of foreign pilots when there were more than 500 unemployed self sponsored fresh pilots from the flying schools.

Ironically, when Singapore Airlines has a surplus of pilots, they send the local pilots to the Middle-eastern airlines while the subsidiaries of Singapore Airlines such as SCOOT, TIGER or SILKAIR are still actively hiring foreigners. Why are we forced to leave this place which we call home? Why are we treated as secondary when we have done our dues for THIS country?

The biggest achievement of an airline pilot is to be able to sit on the left side of the cockpit albeit being a Captain. Most if not all countries have strict upgrade/promotion policies and only their own local people have the privilege to be upgraded to captain and not the foreigners.











The reason is simple, they understand most foreigners will eventually leave the country after receiving the Captain’s bar. Why do we need to give opportunities to foreigners when they are merely using Singapore as a stepping stone for something even greater ?

China, an aviation booming country who needs thousands and thousands of pilots, have stated that only locals can be promoted to Captains and there should not be over-reliance on foreigners.

They know, it is NOT sustainable and fair to the locals. Singapore is a small island with limited pilot jobs, do we really have to depend on foreigners to fill the gaps?

It’s not surprising and uncommon to see a 26 years old foreign first officer promoted to Captain in Singapore where Singaporeans would probably get their LONG shot at 38 years old due to foreign management in OUR local airlines and policies made by the government.

There are many Singaporeans like Mr. Lau Boon Huan who are risking their lives working overseas just because Singapore government does not have a stalwart policy to protect the interests of their own Singaporeans.

Sadly, Mr. Lau Boon Huan is the casualty of such policy made by the government of Singapore.

An Overseas SINGAPOREAN Pilot
PS: Singapore is a small island with very limited airspace.
*Article first appeared in Transitioning.org, a support site run by Mr Gilbert Goh.


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