Fourteen young pilots received their ‘Wings’ as Junior First Officers at SriLankan Airlines, after completing a rigorous training programme at the National Carrier.

The group included one female pilot who is the third of the fairer sex to join the elite ranks of SriLankan Airlines pilots, and four former flyers from the Air Force.

Peter Hill, CEO of SriLankan, said: “SriLankan Airlines has an enviable record of quality of service and safety, especially in the air, and we guard that tradition closely. All of these pilots have achieved the standards we demand of our employees, particularly those on the flight deck. We are confident that they will work hard towards the day when they will become Captains”.

The professionalism of SriLankan’s pilots was a major factor in the airline being named “World’s Most Efficient Operator of Airbus A330s (small fleet category)” by Airbus Industrie.

“This group has worked very hard, and are now beginning fruitful careers which will literally take them around the world”, said Capt. Dick Hutton, Chief Technical Officer at SriLankan.

SriLankan Airlines has recruited a steady stream of local pilots, more than 75 over the last six years, providing opportunities for young men and women to embark on rewarding careers in commercial flying.

“We will soon be advertising for the next intake of local pilots, and providing more opportunities for youngsters who are keen on joining this rewarding industry”, said Captain Milinda Ratnayake, Senior Manager Flight Operations.

Pilots are recruited through a rigorous selection process, after which they spend six months in a full training programme which includes classroom sessions and hands-on technical sessions at the Flight Operations Department, Engineering Department and other departments, followed by flying training, and simulator programmes. Former pilots of the Air Force undergo a somewhat shorter training programme.

Finlay Pereira, one of the new Junior First Officers, said: “All of us would like to thank the many people at SriLankan who helped us and challenged us during our training. We are also thankful to the senior management of SriLankan for providing us the opportunity, and our families for supporting us to achieve our dreams”.

SriLankan Airlines now flies to 50 destinations in 28 countries, and has gained a global reputation as an award-winning carrier.

January 12th, 2007