200 IAF pilots want to leave, but IAF wont let them

BBC investigation says more pilots want to quit, but are prevented

BY A CORRESPONDENT
April 12, 2006

About 200 pilots are raring to quit the Indian Air Force due to poor work conditions, the BBC has reported. However, the IAF's refusal to let them go has triggered a crisis, with one of them even attempting a suicide.

In a special investigation, the BBC spoke to several serving and retired pilots in the Indian Air Force, who said that the trauma of living far from their families coupled with poor conditions have made them do a rethink on continuing with the Indian Air Force.

However, the IAF, reports BBC, is not as much open to letting pilots go as it was. In 2002-2004, 263 pilots left the Indian Air Force on premature retirement. However, in 2005, only eight pilots were allowed to go. Citing top documents, BBC said that one of these pilots were allowed to go only after he secured a letter from a member of parliament. According to BBC, the IAF pilots feel victimized, not being allowed to leave the service and tied down by sycophancy. One of the pilots told BBC that he was asked to shut up when he wanted to quit the service. Another pilot attempted suicide, and he is receiving treatment at a military hospital.

However, the Indian Air Force claims that the service conditions are made clear to the recruits at the time of joining the Indian Air Force. The IAF spends millions of rupees on training each fighter pilot, and understandably, is hesitant to let them go. In a written response to BBC, IAF said: "When any officer of the IAF asks for premature retirement on compassionate grounds, these cases are investigated and, when found genuine, the officer is allowed to proceed on premature retirement." The IAF says that it cannot allow for empty cockpits, since it is a matter of national security.

The sharp demand for pilots in India has partially triggered disturbances in the pilots' minds. One of the pilots interviewed by BBC wondered why it was wrong to leave IAF for a commercial pilot's job, since it earns far better and offers better work conditions. The pilots say that they have got nothing in return for the long years they have put in for the country. Many of them also allege that the senior commanders send many of their relatives for commercial pilot training, even as they prevent they juniors from leaving.