Pilots turn younger, pockets get deeper
Three years back, the average age of pilots at the entry level was 23 years as compared to 20 years now.
By Vishakha Talreja, TNN |
NEW DELHI: Youngsters are flying high. Owing to the shortage of pilots in the country and high salary offered, the aviation industry in India has witnessed an increase in the number of young pilots. About three years back, the average age of pilots at the entry level was around 23 years as compared to 20 years now and it will continue falling, say industry heads. Eighteen year old Japji Cheema from Chandigarh is set to become India’s youngest pilot. She already has offers from three full service Indian carriers.
Japji completed her flying hours from Mazzei Flying Service, School of Aeronautics, California, in only five months and 10 days. “The airlines approached me when I returned to India around two weeks back. I am expecting a salary of around Rs 1.7-2 lakh,” says Ms Cheema, who will give her DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) exams in April this year.
The minimum eligibility for CPL (commercial pilot licence) is 17 years and the average duration of course in India is two years. The average salary of an entry level pilot is Rs 1.5 lakh. According to DGCA, the average age of candidates in the last commercial pilot license (CPL) exam in October 2006 for was 19-20 years. Six months back, the flying hours required to attain a CPL were reduced from 250 to 200 by DGCA .
“The demand for pilots has increased in last five years as the industry is expanding. The average age of students is 18-20 years,” says Mr Chandra, ground instructor, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA). IGRUA’s youngest student is just 17 years old. Currently, about 500 pilots are needed per year, whereas only 200 pilots are being trained every year in India. There are 39 flying training schools in India.
Many young aspirants, like Cheema, fly overseas for training. The average duration of course is around 6-9 months abroad as compared to around two years in India. Though there are some private institutes with foreign tie-ups where the course duration is around one year. “Lateral entry from air-force continues with many opting for it as their second career. However, owing to surge in job opportunities, many youngsters are entering this field just after 10+2,” says Akhileshwar Prasad, director, Griffin Aviation Academy. Of it’s 31 students, about 20 are below 20 years of age.
With young minds at their service, airlines are not complaining. “It’s easy to train and mould them. Youngsters also adapt themselves easily,” says Harpreet A De Singh, deputy general manager, training operations, Air India. The training period of Air India is six months. “We have seen an increase in the number of young pilots, especially women. Around 7% of our pilots are women as compared to 1% last year,” says a SpiceJet official.
vishakha.talreja@timesgroup.com
Japji completed her flying hours from Mazzei Flying Service, School of Aeronautics, California, in only five months and 10 days. “The airlines approached me when I returned to India around two weeks back. I am expecting a salary of around Rs 1.7-2 lakh,” says Ms Cheema, who will give her DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) exams in April this year.
The minimum eligibility for CPL (commercial pilot licence) is 17 years and the average duration of course in India is two years. The average salary of an entry level pilot is Rs 1.5 lakh. According to DGCA, the average age of candidates in the last commercial pilot license (CPL) exam in October 2006 for was 19-20 years. Six months back, the flying hours required to attain a CPL were reduced from 250 to 200 by DGCA .
“The demand for pilots has increased in last five years as the industry is expanding. The average age of students is 18-20 years,” says Mr Chandra, ground instructor, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA). IGRUA’s youngest student is just 17 years old. Currently, about 500 pilots are needed per year, whereas only 200 pilots are being trained every year in India. There are 39 flying training schools in India.
Many young aspirants, like Cheema, fly overseas for training. The average duration of course is around 6-9 months abroad as compared to around two years in India. Though there are some private institutes with foreign tie-ups where the course duration is around one year. “Lateral entry from air-force continues with many opting for it as their second career. However, owing to surge in job opportunities, many youngsters are entering this field just after 10+2,” says Akhileshwar Prasad, director, Griffin Aviation Academy. Of it’s 31 students, about 20 are below 20 years of age.
With young minds at their service, airlines are not complaining. “It’s easy to train and mould them. Youngsters also adapt themselves easily,” says Harpreet A De Singh, deputy general manager, training operations, Air India. The training period of Air India is six months. “We have seen an increase in the number of young pilots, especially women. Around 7% of our pilots are women as compared to 1% last year,” says a SpiceJet official.
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“These young pilots have opportunity of flying more with private carriers. With the average age of first level pilots being 20 now, Indian aviation industry will see in next few years commanders below 25 years of age,” says Kapil Kaul, India CEO of Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. vishakha.talreja@timesgroup.com
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