Skies open up to arts graduates

Mumbai: If you have chosen Arts instead of Science for your graduation and yet dream of becoming a pilot, the airlines are lending wings to your hope. They are now planning to recruit Arts graduates too for the job of pilots. Chennai-based full service carrier Paramount Airways is planning to set up a pilot training academy.
M Thiagarajan, Managing Director, Paramount Airways, says: “Why would one restrict an Arts graduate from pursuing the dream of becoming a pilot. Flying is all about aptitude of a candidate.” Thiagarajan, one of the youngest airline chief in the world and a pilot by himself, says the proposed training school would select fresh graduates on the basis of written test and interview which will be followed by training.
The training academy will be housed in Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and have a tie-up with an international university.
Sources say Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer may partner with Paramount Airways in setting up the academy.
Initial pilot training for a fresh graduate will cost at least Rs 3 lakh (for a PPL – private pilot license) while it will be around Rs 15 lakh for a commercial pilot license (CPL). In the US, the same will cost around Rs 17 lakh.
Air-India sources say over 2,000 candidates appeared for the eligibility test for pilot training conducted by the airline.
“Jet Airways and other leading airlines are taking fresh candidates with CPL.. The move to recruit fresh graduates will help meet the shortage situation,” said an industry source.
05/03/07 P R Sanjai/Business Standard