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Education Plus
For a job in the skies
S.A. RADHAKRISHNAN
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The Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology aims to mould professionals for the burgeoning aviation sector
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High-flying dreams: With the boom in the airline industry, youngsters aspire to find a place for themselves in the cockpit.
The rising income levels and a growing global interest in India are expected to result in a 21.6 per cent annual growth in air-passenger traffic over the next five years. Indian airports will have to deal with 256.5 million travellers by 2012-end, say statistics compiled by the Airports Authority of India.
Aircraft movements are projected to rise by 17 per cent between now and 2011-12. Domestic travel is expected to see a higher growth of around 24 per cent during this period.
Severe shortage
An estimated 480 aircraft are expected to join the country’s present fleet of 310 by 2012.
The booming aviation sector is plagued by a severe shortage of qualified pilots. It is estimated that Indian carriers alone will need 3,000 pilots in the next two years.
Flying schools have sprouted across the country to capitalise on the demand for pilots.
The Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology, set up by the Kerala Government in the vicinity of the Thiruvananthapuram international airport, aims to provide quality training to young aspiring pilots who wish to become professionals in the aviation sector.
Flying training for 200 hours will be on aircraft owned by the academy. Ground classes will be conducted in air regulations, aviation meteorology, air navigation, aircraft and engines and radio telephony.
The academy will offer training to get student pilot licence, flight radio telephone operators’ licence, private pilot licence and commercial pilot licence. Forty hours of flying is must for private pilot licence (PPL), 200 hours for private and commercial pilot licence and 160 hours for commercial pilot licence for PPL holders.
“Being a government undertaking, the academy aims to impart quality training at affordable rates and to cater to the increasing need for pilots. The fees to be paid by each trainee, in instalments, will be Rs. 15.2 lakh, the lowest in the country,” says the academy’s Executive Director, R. Rajeev.
Four-seater aircraft
At present, the institute has two brand new Cessna 172R four-seater aircraft purchased at a cost of Rs. 1 crore each.
The advantage of the four-seater aircraft is that three students can accompany the flying instructor.
The Aero Club of India has promised a new Cessna 172R with a glass cockpit, Mr. Rajeev says.
T.J. Joseph has been appointed Chief Flying Instructor and S.K.J. Nair Chief Ground Instructor of the academy. Three ground instructors have been appointed to impart training.
The ground classes will be held for the time being in a private building at Eenchakkal, near the airport. The new building of the academy, along with hangar and other facilities, will come up near the Arat gate of the airport on the Vallakadavu side.
The building, being set up on land provided by Airports Authority of India on the airport premises, is estimated to cost Rs. 3.49 crore. The State Government has made an allocation of Rs. 1 crore in this year’s budget.
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