No fences facing for aviation jobs in India

There is a huge requirement for pilots and engineers at the moment. By one count, the country would need 15,000 pilots by 2020, though the immediate needs for airlines are more modest. Kingfisher, for instance, needs 1,000 pilots as it triples its fleet to 100 aircraft by 2012. Air-India needs around 950 pilots to fly the 68 new Boeings it is acquiring.
To meet the requirements in the short term, airlines are hiring expatriate pilots. Kingfisher has conducted roadshows in Brazil, Venezuela, Toulouse (France) and Bangkok (Thailand). It is also trying to rope in Indians working with Middle Eastern carriers and ground services companies.
To meet their long-term requirements, Air-India and Kingfisher are nurturing pilots through a cadet programme. Air-India has hired 150 cadet pilots, who would come back in 6-12 months to join as captains.
An airline may save time on training by hiring an expatriate pilot, it takes nearly five months to get a security clearance.
Besides, there is an acute shortage of flight instructors and ground instructors. There are two types of ground instructors — one with engineering background who trains pilots on some systems, and other from operations background.
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Choose your role
-Graphics by Sanjay Kapoor, Published in Hindustan Times on 04/08/07
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Flight instructors are senior pilots drawn from within the airline. But they have line duties, and are often not released due to a shortage of pilots and a possible loss of business if an airline had to cancel some flights.
Though this enhances the quality of training, it strains an airline’s training resources.
Pilots earn $7,000-11,000 a month, depending on the market, experience and the kind of planes they fly. For instance, pilots for Boeing 777s are the most sought after. Those flying turboprops (ATRs) were paid less earlier, but now are at par with jet pilots.
Sure, there is money in this. But it is important to figure out if you have it in you to stay a pilot or an engineer in the long term.
Pilots should have the practical aptitude and understanding to apply knowledge gained through training to acquire a commercial pilot licence and taking exams conducted by the regulator. He or she also has to be a quick thinker.
Similarly, an engineer should be completely focused on safety. A pilot can overrule an engineer, but most often relies on the engineer.
Jobs for engineers will shoot up with the setting up MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft) units. Leading firms have announced collaboration ventures for MRO (Singapore Engineer-GoAir, Jupiter Aviation-Indian-Airbus, and Boeing-Air-India) and more could follow. But whatever the job you may aspire for, it is important to figure if you have the aptitude. Changing course midway, as any pilot can tell you, can be more painful.
26/07/07 Ranju Sarkar/Hindustan Times