Opportunities aplenty on the skies
ABDUL LATHEEF NAHA
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There is a shortage of pilots in the country. Even so, it is tough and expensive to secure the qualification required to fly an aircraft
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SKY HOME: The giant double-decker Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial airliner. Photo: AFP
PILOTS' IS a challenging career with a lot of sheen and handsome remuneration.
It demands dedication and ceaseless efforts to maintain efficiency in service, discipline, punctuality and a calm temperament.
The opening up of the Indian skies has opened a floodgate of opportunities for pilots and cabin crew. A shortage of pilots confronts the operators.
Holding about 20 per cent of the Indian market, Air-India has been the largest employer of pilots and cabin crew in the country.
The airline, according to its managers, is looking at a 10 per cent growth this year.
Recruitment
Last year, around this time, Air-India mooted a proposal to hire 150 pilots over the next 18 months as part of its expansion plans.
The airline already recruited 62 cabin crew for its no-frills product, Air India Express.
Most of them have Kerala links as the low-cost airline's major chunk of operations are from the three airports of Kerala.
Air-India is recruiting pilots regularly. All new recruits are being taken as co-pilots.
After training and flying for a certain number of hours they will become commanders.
The airline is planning to recruit pilots not only from India but also from abroad with the introduction of Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 777 aircraft.
These pilots, according to Air-India officials, are being taken on short-term contracts.
All airlines have tightened their selection processes following an increase in the number of applicants.
Some, including Air-India, plumped for personality tests to ensure that only the best got selected. Usually, after the initial screening through personality tests, there will be written tests, followed by detailed interviews.
Air Force pilots
The recent boom in the aviation sector has attracted Air Force pilots too. Recently, 15 Indian Air Force pilots left their service to join various airlines. A few more are reported to have put in their papers.
Air Deccan has already employed nearly 20 Air Force pilots. Air-India officials too said that the airline had been recruiting Air Force pilots for some time now.
An advantage of taking Air Force pilots is that they are skilled and have lots of flying hours to their credit. They are also trained to operate in tough situations.
Training
Pilots' training is expensive anywhere in the world. There are several essential personal qualities demanded by the pilot's job that is highly specialised in nature.
Sound technical knowledge of the aircraft for the flawless interpretation of the readings of various sophisticated instruments even while the plane is on autopilot, complex manipulations at the time of takeoff and landing as well as in midair are part of the essential expertise demanded of a pilot.
Alertness, quick thinking, unambiguous communication with the ground control personnel, mental balance while facing trying moments during flights, grit, presence of mind, self-confidence, and good physical fitness are some of the other characteristics that make a good pilot.
Centres
The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi at Rae Bareli, UP, is the premier training centre in the country.
It offers ab initio training and has a combined programme that covers Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and BSc Aviation. (http://civilaviation.nic.in/igrua/indira.htm)
The Government of India subsidises the cost of flying to the students up to a certain number of hours at authorised centres of training. There is only one such centre in Kerala. The Kerala Aviation Training Centre at Thiruvananthapuram can be reached at 0471- 2501814. Similar facilities are available in Coimbatore, Bangalore and Chennai.
The total expenses to become a commercial pilot may come to Rs.10 lakh or more. It will cost about Rs.15 lakhs to become a professional pilot.
More opportunities
The aviation boom is throwing up opportunities in a wide variety of areas that include customer care (passenger handling at different levels), ground support (ramp operations), reservation and ticketing, sales and marketing, flight catering, cargo handling, flight engineering, etc.
Few airline job aspirants often get to know before they enter the field that the industry is an ocean.
Recognised courses
Realising that the fast-growing airline industry requires professionals who are technically proficient and capable of handling the respective areas of responsibility smoothly with precision and a high degree of customer orientation, the world bodies such as International Air Transport Association (IATA), United Federation of Travel Agents' Associations (UFTAA) and International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) have evolved various programmes and courses that are globally recognised.
There are about 150 cabin crew grooming centres across the country, most of them centred in metros. Leading among them are Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training, Delhi, Air Hostess Training Institute, Delhi, and Air Hostess Academy, Delhi.
They have branches in other metros too.
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