Supply and Demand for Pilots

Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Transport whether the demand for pilots in Singapore meets the supply of trainees from local pilot academies and what is done to help the trained pilots secure job placements.

There are four approved pilot training academies in Singapore. Over the last two years, about 240 pilots graduated from these academies. About 80% of them were from Singapore carriers' cadet pilot programmes. The remaining 20% were self-sponsored.

Singapore carriers prefer to recruit new pilots through their own cadet pilot programmes, as they can then carefully screen and assess the candidates even before they commence their training. This approach also allows the airlines to better match their recruitment needs against their fleet growth plans.

The Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore do not interfere in the recruitment decisions of Singapore carriers, as it is their responsibility to determine the suitability of each candidate for their company.