National Airborne Service Corps Faces 20% Pilot Shortage; Ministry of Interior Seeks Salary Increases
Taiwan's Ministry of Interior is advocating for higher salaries for National Airborne Service Corps pilots to stem the loss of talent to private airlines, amid a 20% staff shortage.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 20:56
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 21:02 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 21:08 (6 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, 23rd) The Ministry of the Interior stated that it costs over NT$100 million to train a single captain for the National Airborne Service Corps. Currently, there are 100 pilot positions, but there is a shortage of 20 pilots, largely because many have moved to private airlines for better pay. The Ministry has requested the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, Executive Yuan, to increase their salaries and allowances. Additionally, since the majority of the Corps' missions involve air rescues, the public is reminded to prioritize safety during mountain and maritime activities.
During a press conference following the Ministry of Interior's affairs meeting today, Executive Deputy Minister Wu Tang-an mentioned that to protect citizens' lives, the Executive Yuan established the National Rescue Command Center to integrate top domestic air and sea rescue resources, which can dispatch the Ministry's Airborne Service Corps and professional fleets from the Ministry of National Defense. Over the past 10 years, the National Rescue Command Center has executed 3,658 missions, rescuing 6,158 people.
Wu noted that the Airborne Service Corps handles tasks such as air disaster relief, search and rescue, emergency medical services, observation patrols, and transportation. In 2025 (Year 114), they conducted 4,795 flight missions. Since its establishment 20 years ago, it has carried out over 120,000 sorties, successfully rescuing 8,866 people, averaging about 300 sorties per year. The most frequent missions are supporting the Coast Guard Administration in maritime rescues and the National Fire Agency in mountain rescues, prompting reminders for the public to stay safe in these environments.
Furthermore, addressing the aging active AS-365N Dauphin helicopters and discontinued parts, Wu stated that the government has invested over NT$3.6 billion to promote an "all-digital cockpit" upgrade plan. Comprehensive integration of digital avionics and fully automatic Search and Rescue (SAR) equipment into nine helicopters will not only significantly reduce flight workload but also enhance search and rescue capabilities in complex environments day and night. The upgrades are expected to be fully completed by the end of 2030 (Year 119), forming a complementary high and low-altitude rescue system with Black Hawk helicopters.
Regarding the pilot shortage, Lin Kuo-chiang, Deputy Director-General of the Airborne Service Corps, stated that the hourly cost is NT$340,000 for a Black Hawk and about NT$270,000 for a Dauphin. Training a new recruit to become a captain requires about 500 flight hours, costing over NT$100 million.
Lin mentioned that while the authorized pilot headcount is 100, there is a shortage of 20. The rate of recruitment is far slower than the departure rate. Some leave for family reasons, but the majority leave due to salary issues. In the past two years alone, five pilots resigned before retirement age to work in the private sector. Private airlines are also particularly fond of poaching Corps captains because their training is highly comprehensive.
Lin added that the monthly salary of an Airborne Service Corps pilot ranges from NT$130,000 to NT$150,000, whereas the private sector starts at NT$150,000. Remaining in the civil service does not allow one to collect a pension concurrently, but retiring from the Corps after 20 years of service and moving to the private sector allows them to collect a pension and earn a monthly salary of over NT$200,000, which is a structural issue with the national system.
Wu added that to retain talent, efforts will be made to fight for better salaries, benefits, and professional allowances for the Corps. Especially since professional allowances or subsidies for police and firefighters are being adjusted recently, the Corps will also seek similar assistance. Communications with the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration are ongoing, hoping to raise salaries as much as possible so the gap with the private sector isn't too large.
Regarding user-pays rescue systems and whether to introduce cheaper helicopters to lower rescue costs, Lin said the Corps prioritizes saving lives, and the National Rescue Command Center maintains strict oversight. Currently, regulations do not authorize the Corps to charge for rescues, but there have been recent discussions on a fee system, and progress is expected. Moreover, Taiwan has over 200 mountains exceeding 3,000 meters; the Black Hawk helicopter can stably hover and rescue people in all of Taiwan's terrains, which cheaper helicopters cannot do. Using the best resources to provide citizens with the safest and most stable services is an excellent policy. (Editor: Lin Hsing-meng) 1150423
(CNA Reporter Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, 23rd) The Ministry of the Interior stated that it costs over NT$100 million to train a single captain for the National Airborne Service Corps. Currently, there are 100 pilot positions, but there is a shortage of 20 pilots, largely because many have moved to private airlines for better pay. The Ministry has requested the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, Executive Yuan, to increase their salaries and allowances. Additionally, since the majority of the Corps' missions involve air rescues, the public is reminded to prioritize safety during mountain and maritime activities.
During a press conference following the Ministry of Interior's affairs meeting today, Executive Deputy Minister Wu Tang-an mentioned that to protect citizens' lives, the Executive Yuan established the National Rescue Command Center to integrate top domestic air and sea rescue resources, which can dispatch the Ministry's Airborne Service Corps and professional fleets from the Ministry of National Defense. Over the past 10 years, the National Rescue Command Center has executed 3,658 missions, rescuing 6,158 people.
Wu noted that the Airborne Service Corps handles tasks such as air disaster relief, search and rescue, emergency medical services, observation patrols, and transportation. In 2025 (Year 114), they conducted 4,795 flight missions. Since its establishment 20 years ago, it has carried out over 120,000 sorties, successfully rescuing 8,866 people, averaging about 300 sorties per year. The most frequent missions are supporting the Coast Guard Administration in maritime rescues and the National Fire Agency in mountain rescues, prompting reminders for the public to stay safe in these environments.
Furthermore, addressing the aging active AS-365N Dauphin helicopters and discontinued parts, Wu stated that the government has invested over NT$3.6 billion to promote an "all-digital cockpit" upgrade plan. Comprehensive integration of digital avionics and fully automatic Search and Rescue (SAR) equipment into nine helicopters will not only significantly reduce flight workload but also enhance search and rescue capabilities in complex environments day and night. The upgrades are expected to be fully completed by the end of 2030 (Year 119), forming a complementary high and low-altitude rescue system with Black Hawk helicopters.
Regarding the pilot shortage, Lin Kuo-chiang, Deputy Director-General of the Airborne Service Corps, stated that the hourly cost is NT$340,000 for a Black Hawk and about NT$270,000 for a Dauphin. Training a new recruit to become a captain requires about 500 flight hours, costing over NT$100 million.
Lin mentioned that while the authorized pilot headcount is 100, there is a shortage of 20. The rate of recruitment is far slower than the departure rate. Some leave for family reasons, but the majority leave due to salary issues. In the past two years alone, five pilots resigned before retirement age to work in the private sector. Private airlines are also particularly fond of poaching Corps captains because their training is highly comprehensive.
Lin added that the monthly salary of an Airborne Service Corps pilot ranges from NT$130,000 to NT$150,000, whereas the private sector starts at NT$150,000. Remaining in the civil service does not allow one to collect a pension concurrently, but retiring from the Corps after 20 years of service and moving to the private sector allows them to collect a pension and earn a monthly salary of over NT$200,000, which is a structural issue with the national system.
Wu added that to retain talent, efforts will be made to fight for better salaries, benefits, and professional allowances for the Corps. Especially since professional allowances or subsidies for police and firefighters are being adjusted recently, the Corps will also seek similar assistance. Communications with the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration are ongoing, hoping to raise salaries as much as possible so the gap with the private sector isn't too large.
Regarding user-pays rescue systems and whether to introduce cheaper helicopters to lower rescue costs, Lin said the Corps prioritizes saving lives, and the National Rescue Command Center maintains strict oversight. Currently, regulations do not authorize the Corps to charge for rescues, but there have been recent discussions on a fee system, and progress is expected. Moreover, Taiwan has over 200 mountains exceeding 3,000 meters; the Black Hawk helicopter can stably hover and rescue people in all of Taiwan's terrains, which cheaper helicopters cannot do. Using the best resources to provide citizens with the safest and most stable services is an excellent policy. (Editor: Lin Hsing-meng) 1150423