Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said about 900 pilots are still unemployed in Indonesia and pose a specific challenge to the government.

"We have two challenges, namely competition and unemployed pilots. Competition is no longer among regions only but also among countries globally. In the educational sector, we have a big problem where a total of 900 pilots remain unemployed," Budi said after launching a Campaign on Flight Safety here on Sunday.

He said the solution that has been offered is the improvement of pilot quality by organizing training and increase skills.

The minister said there are many pilots which are not accepted by the company because many of them yet to have the qualified skill.

"If we provide them with compensation and additional skills, they can be recruited and accepted as pilots because they really are needed," the minister said.

Pilots should also follow the process through flying small planes such as Cessna Caravan or ATR before they fly wide boy planes.

"I believe there are many pilots who are not employed because they failed to past the test. They should pass the process first such as directly flying Boeing 737. One should understand the prerequisite in the firs place," Minister Budi said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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