Fewer people to be trained as pilots

YOGYAKARTA: Air Force chief Marshal Chappy Hakim said on Thursday the force could not take as many students to train as pilots as the country had less airplanes now.

"The number of our airplanes is decreasing. Thus, we have to lower the number of students," said Chappy.

However, he said, if there were positive development within two to three years, the students could receive a higher level of training.

"If within two years we can have one or two squadrons of Sukhoi, we can heighten the skills of our pilots," he said.

When asked whether the Air Force would accept women cadets in the foreseeable future, Chappy said that there were no facilities for females at the academy.

"We once considered admitting females, but as the facilities were not available, we dropped the idea," he said. --Antara