Winged dreams
Nilakshi Sharma
Indian dreams are soaring to an all time. Scores of young Indians across the rural urban divide are united in their aspiration of flying high, both literally and metaphorically. The aviation industry in India is one of the most vibrant sectors of growth. The Indian aviation industry, with its staggering compound annual growth rate of 18 per cent in 2008 is still on an upward surge. The projected growth rate of India's civil aviation passenger is a whopping 20 per cent, one of the highest in the world.
Being a pilot seems like a dream career choice. The remuneration is substantial and the job is associated with both, travelling the world over and a sense of glamour. The requirements do not seem arduous. A 10+2 degree in sciences with a minimum of 50 per cent marks is the basic. The next step is training in flying and acquiring a recognised Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). The next step is the series of examinations conducted by the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA), government of India. This consists of two medical examinations, a practical test and a written examination. Regardless of the validity of the CPL granted by say the FAA or Federal Aviation Authority (USA) or the European Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) a pilot cannot fly in the Indian skies without DGCA qualifications.
On average training can take anywhere from six months to two years depending on variable factors such as the student's learning curve and the school's curriculum. But the bottom line is money. CPL training is expensive. Mostly students head to foreign schools because until recently the schools in India were both, very few and plagued by infrastructural problems. With the recent crop of aviation schools being opened here such as the Orient Flight School in Chennai that lack is being addressed. But schools in countries such as Philippines continue to attract students in droves because they seem to offer the best deals in terms of time and money. The approximate cost cited hovers around Rs.20 lakhs. But that is actually a misleading figure because that turns out to be the minimum cost. Usually it amounts to upwards of Rs.40 lakhs. Deepak Raj Singh, founder International School of Aviation (ISA) in Delhi and the authorised recruiting agent for flight schools, is candid in warning aspirants. Be prepared for a substantial financial investment. He is wary of students who are mortgaging their all just to meet the stipulated fee.
Factors such as a hike in jet aviation fuel prices can increase training costs without warning. To add to the problems there are the horror stories of students being left in the lurch in alien lands when the school suddenly goes bust. Before opting for pilot training the aspiring student needs to be wary of the pitfalls. Unfortunately, there is a critical lack of organised information. Ideally, before committing to a school and the training program the student should compare the widest range of options possible and the research should be intensive.
Michael Sturgis, president of K&S Aviation Services, Inc., a highly regarded school in Phoenix, USA, took the time to answer a few questions dealing with the most basic issues confronting an aspirant.
For the aspiring indian students what should be kept in mind while choosing a school?
The most important decision in an airline pilots' career is the one that is made before training begins. The selection of a training institution will profoundly affect the direction, speed and overall success of an airline career. Becoming an airline pilot is much more than just flight training, accumulating flight hours and acquiring basic flying skills in general aviation aircraft. Unfortunately that is all that most "flight schools" provide world wide.
Developments in the airline industry have prompted airlines to look for commercial pilots that have more to offer than just technical flight competencies in small, general aviation aircraft. The industry demands competent, effective and efficient First Officers or Co-Pilots with prior Large Transport experience. Present industry training paradigms have forced many airline training departments to become flight schools of sorts and incurred enormous expenses training their cadets to acceptable levels of competencies. The aspiring students should address and require that their training be geared towards their goal that of becoming an airline pilot on a jet transport. .
What are common mistakes made by aspiring students?
Choosing a flight school purely based on price. Flight schools often base their prices on minimum required flight times. These are regulatory minimums and are seldom achieved by a student pilot. Students should calculate with a 20% buffer. Another mistake is choosing a flight school which cannot cater effectively towards their goal. As was said above, most flight schools do not cater to proper airline training. If a student wants to engage in this process with an agent, they should choose a reputable agent with a successful and identifiable track record of satisfied customers and not because he is the most popular for the moment.
Being a pilot seems like a dream career choice. The remuneration is substantial and the job is associated with both, travelling the world over and a sense of glamour. The requirements do not seem arduous. A 10+2 degree in sciences with a minimum of 50 per cent marks is the basic. The next step is training in flying and acquiring a recognised Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). The next step is the series of examinations conducted by the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA), government of India. This consists of two medical examinations, a practical test and a written examination. Regardless of the validity of the CPL granted by say the FAA or Federal Aviation Authority (USA) or the European Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) a pilot cannot fly in the Indian skies without DGCA qualifications.
On average training can take anywhere from six months to two years depending on variable factors such as the student's learning curve and the school's curriculum. But the bottom line is money. CPL training is expensive. Mostly students head to foreign schools because until recently the schools in India were both, very few and plagued by infrastructural problems. With the recent crop of aviation schools being opened here such as the Orient Flight School in Chennai that lack is being addressed. But schools in countries such as Philippines continue to attract students in droves because they seem to offer the best deals in terms of time and money. The approximate cost cited hovers around Rs.20 lakhs. But that is actually a misleading figure because that turns out to be the minimum cost. Usually it amounts to upwards of Rs.40 lakhs. Deepak Raj Singh, founder International School of Aviation (ISA) in Delhi and the authorised recruiting agent for flight schools, is candid in warning aspirants. Be prepared for a substantial financial investment. He is wary of students who are mortgaging their all just to meet the stipulated fee.
Factors such as a hike in jet aviation fuel prices can increase training costs without warning. To add to the problems there are the horror stories of students being left in the lurch in alien lands when the school suddenly goes bust. Before opting for pilot training the aspiring student needs to be wary of the pitfalls. Unfortunately, there is a critical lack of organised information. Ideally, before committing to a school and the training program the student should compare the widest range of options possible and the research should be intensive.
Michael Sturgis, president of K&S Aviation Services, Inc., a highly regarded school in Phoenix, USA, took the time to answer a few questions dealing with the most basic issues confronting an aspirant.
For the aspiring indian students what should be kept in mind while choosing a school?
The most important decision in an airline pilots' career is the one that is made before training begins. The selection of a training institution will profoundly affect the direction, speed and overall success of an airline career. Becoming an airline pilot is much more than just flight training, accumulating flight hours and acquiring basic flying skills in general aviation aircraft. Unfortunately that is all that most "flight schools" provide world wide.
Developments in the airline industry have prompted airlines to look for commercial pilots that have more to offer than just technical flight competencies in small, general aviation aircraft. The industry demands competent, effective and efficient First Officers or Co-Pilots with prior Large Transport experience. Present industry training paradigms have forced many airline training departments to become flight schools of sorts and incurred enormous expenses training their cadets to acceptable levels of competencies. The aspiring students should address and require that their training be geared towards their goal that of becoming an airline pilot on a jet transport. .
What are common mistakes made by aspiring students?
Choosing a flight school purely based on price. Flight schools often base their prices on minimum required flight times. These are regulatory minimums and are seldom achieved by a student pilot. Students should calculate with a 20% buffer. Another mistake is choosing a flight school which cannot cater effectively towards their goal. As was said above, most flight schools do not cater to proper airline training. If a student wants to engage in this process with an agent, they should choose a reputable agent with a successful and identifiable track record of satisfied customers and not because he is the most popular for the moment.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment