Rules on Pilot Qualifications to be Eased
The South Korean government is planning to provide assistance for A380 pilots of Asiana Airlines who lost their licenses due to COVID-19. Specifically, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is going to change their license maintenance requirements from at least three takeoffs and landings within 90 days to the same number of takeoffs and landings within 210 days.
According to industry sources, 132 out of the 143 A380 pilots of Asiana Airlines lost their licenses due to the lack of work since March this year. On the other hand, Korean Air’s A380 pilots are maintaining their licenses by simulator training. Although Asiana Airlines pilots can maintain their licenses by simulator training as well, the only A380 simulator in South Korea belongs to Korean Air and it is already fully booked by Korean Air pilots. The South Korea government is trying to have talks with Thailand, which owns another A380 simulator in Asia, but the Thai government is yet to reply.
Under the circumstances, the ministry is going to make the change in accordance with ICAO guidelines on condition that Asiana Airlines come up with measures to guarantee safety. Asiana Airlines is likely to prepare the measures by combining the 132 as co-pilots with the 11 who are currently maintaining their licenses.