Iran to replace Russian pilots with nationals

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jmrRYrbbTR9jZbCkmKwVYrAdDGYw

Iran's transport minister said on Saturday that Russian pilots flying for Iranian airlines will be replaced by local cockpit crew within two months, the Fars news agency reported.

"The ministry of transport has given a two-month period, after which all Russian pilots must leave the country," the agency quoted Hamid Behbahani as saying.

When Iran has "a number of professional pilots, there is no need for importing them to operate our flights," the minister was quoted as saying.