Air Chief Marshal P V Naik on Wednesday said over 100 pilots of the Indian Air Force had applied for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) as there were “fewer” promotional avenues for them.
“We have a very steep pyramid structure (in the Air Force) where there are fewer avenues of promotions,” Mr. Naik told reporters here in reply to a question on IAF pilots seeking VRS.
“When one does not get promotions after 24-25 years of service, one wants to leave and try alternative avenues. Off hand I can tell that we have over 100 applications for VRS from pilots,” Air chief said.
Mr. Naik said the number of pilots opting for VRS could increase after the improvement in market situation.
“Since there is a slump in the market outside there are fewer applications. Once the slump is over the (number of) applications might increase,” he said.
Mr. Naik is on a two-day visit to the South Western Air Command (SWAC) here to review its operational, maintenance and administrative preparedness.
