SIA med restriksjoner for ex-pats

Singapore Airlines Restricts A380 Cockpits for Local Pilots


Jobs flying Singapore Airlines's 19 Airbus A380s are effectively reserved for Singaporean citizens. 

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has confirmed its so-called "pass over" policy through which it reserves pilot jobs on its Airbus A380 fleet almost exclusively for Singaporean citizens. The policy means that a Singaporean pilot, irrespective of his seniority number, will be preferred for A380 vacancies over expatriate colleagues. An SIA spokesman last week confirmed to AIN that the company formally gives preference to local pilots for these positions.

SIA currently employs around 2,000 pilots and 450 of these are assigned to its 19 A380s. The remaining 1,550 cockpit crew operate the carrier's 72 Boeing 777-300ER/300/200 fleet and its 19 A330-300s. According to the airline, around 30 percent of all its pilots are Singaporean nationals, with the rest being a mix of Malaysians, Australians, Indians and Europeans. The foreigners are classified as non-Singaporeans but are hired on local terms, with the exception of the"pass over" clause applying to A380 flight deck vacancies. It takes a foreign pilots 10 years to be promoted from first officer to captain. For a Singaporean, this period is eight years to take account of the two years of military service that they are required to complete at the age of 18.