Govt to stop funding commercial pilot training in 2008

"Starting in 2008, the cost of pilot training will be the responsibility of the airlines. The cost of training one pilot until he obtains a Commercial Pilot License with Instrument Rating (CPL-IR) is US$35,000 to US$40,000," Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal told the press after installing 25 pilots who graduated from state pilot school STPI Curug here on Thursday.

Jusman said the State Budget funds so far spent on supporting commercial pilot training would be used to train 20 to 30 pilots for the Directorate for Air Transportation and STPI Curug.

He said the government had decided the stoppage as in the long term the STPI would be developed to become a center for international pilot and flight training and education, the biggest of its kind in ASEAN and even the Asian region.

Therefore, he added, STPI would be equipped with simulator aircraft and a technology-based laboratory and other supporting facilities.

According to STPI data, the academy had produced more than 1,967 pilots since its opening in 1952 but the total number of graduates from its different departments was 13,835.

STPI Director Wisnu Daryono, meanwhile, said the academy would increase its capacity to educate some 200 to 400 pilots per year starting from this year.

The effort would be carried out through the Multi Crew Pilot License (MPL) program in the middle of this year, he added.

STPI has 38 aircraft, including ...