Govt reduces 10 year pilot training to 3 years

Government has reduced the training period for pilots in the country from 10 years to three years.

According to Aggrey Henry Bagiire, the state minister for transport, the decision to cut the training duration for pilots has been necessitated by the emerging challenges in the aviation sector, especially the brain drain that is affecting the country.

"We have been training pilots for ten years, but we have since resolved that the training should take three years in order to close the gaps caused by brain drain. We have also increased the remuneration of staff in order to curb this brain drain," he said.

Bagiire was speaking yesterday during discussions on various challenges in the tourism sector at the Office of the Prime Minister. The meeting, which was chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, was attended by various ministers, permanent secretaries and representatives of government agencies.

Bagiire said Government has also increased funding for the Soroti Aviation Training school from sh4b to sh8b annually.

"The academy was restructured in August 2016, and the total number of staff was increased from 87 to 166. Staff salaries were enhanced over and above the traditional public service pay, and this has helped in motivating staff," he said.