A new US federal law passed mid-December may make it difficult for airline companies in India to recruit retired expatriate pilots to meet growing shortages.

The new law passed by the US government and called Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act allows both the pilot and co-pilot on a domestic flight to be up to the age of 65 years.

The law also allows one pilot on international flights to be up to the age of 65 years provided the other pilot is 60 years or below.

The earlier cut-off age was 60 years, which made it easier for Indian carriers to hire US pilots since commercial pilots in India can fly till the age of 65.

Airlines employ over 800 foreign pilots, out of 2,500 pilots in India. About 5 per cent of them are above 60 years and from the US.

But the US is increasingly being seen as a major source for experienced commanders given an estimated requirement for over 4,500 pilots in the next five years in India.

"The new law will make sourcing of the pilots from the US difficult for us now," admitted Air India executive director Jitender Bhargava.

Air India has about 800 pilots and of these 117 are foreign. The airline did not provide the number of US pilots, but Bhargava said the number was not significant.

Sources in Jet Airways [Get Quote], which has ambitious expansion plans both in India and overseas, said 100 of its 700 pilots are foreign and 15 of them are retired pilots from the US. A Jet spokesperson, however, refused to comment on the issue.

When asked how far the change in the US law will impact, Director General of Civil Aviation Kanu Gohain merely said, "We will have to wait and watch."

For airlines in India the timing of the new regulation may be a problem. All of them are already short of pilots to command new- generation airliners like the Boeing 777s and the wide-bodied Airbus A330s that airlines ply on their international routes.

So far, commanders have been readily available from the pool of the retired pilots in the US who had the experience and the number of hours required to fly international routes.

Domestic airlines can approach other sources for pilots from Europe, Brazil and other Scandinavian countries. But communication and language can be barrier.

"There are many foreign retired pilots who operate the 747-400s and should they decide to go back to their country of origin after serving the minimum notice period, the airlines will have no option but to keep the aircraft on the ground," said a pilot flying on the international routes on condition of anonymity.

However, airline companies say foreign pilots are offered better pay packages in India. A foreign pilot, according to industry sources, gets 20 to 30 per cent more than their Indian counterparts.