Head for the sky

A plethora of career avenues is open in aviation, the most glamorous of which is being a pilot. Apart from piloting, there are many functions required to keep a plane safe in the air and bring it to land.
The second most attractive is the position of cabin crew, which includes air hostesses, stewards, pursers and flight attendants. Other equally important jobs are based on the ground. Some positions include air traffic controller, aeronautical engineer, engine and airframe technician, electrical technician, airfield safety operator and refuelling operator. These posts are vital in keeping the aircraft airworthy.
Airports are the nerve centres of aircraft activity. They serve the airlines as well as the passengers. International airports are mammoth structures with over a 100 aircraft terminals, hotels, underground metro stations, shopping malls, parking space, hangars, maintenance areas, baggage handling areas, cargo bays, restaurants and arrival and departure lounges. Today, security is paramount in airports.
Such airports need tremendous manpower to be working 24×7. The Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, has around 3,000 staff on its rolls and 1,500 personnel from security and government agencies. Thus, there is plenty of scope for a variety of roles at the airports, where career openings include airport manager, fixed base operator manager, scheduling coordinator, catering manager, flight dispatcher, baggage handler, cargo handler and skycap.

Joining the flying brigade
The safety of the plane and its passengers is always the pilot’s responsibility. So, the pilot must be prepared for any emergency.
Aspiring pilots need to pass 10+2 with maths, physics and chemistry and go through a rigorous training schedule and pass examinations to get certifications from the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA).
To fly commercial aircraft, one has to have a commercial pilot licence (CPL). A holder of a student pilot licence (SPL) can move directly to CPL. The minimum age for an SPL is 16 years and CPL is 18 years. For private pilot licence, one must be at least 17 years.
There are several DGCA-approved flying academies where one can do a CPL course. It may cost anything up to Rs 25 lakh and may last two years. One has to log in a minimum of 250 hours of solo flying and cross country to get a CPL.
Aspirants must also pass stringent medical fitness tests conducted by the IAF Central Medical Establishment, Delhi. After getting a CPL, one has to fly at least 1,500 hours on different aircraft and become familiar with instrument ratings to get the airline transport pilot licence (ATPL). Many aspirants try to get the licence faster by joining schools abroad. But, before parting with huge sums of money, verify the claims made by such schools.
Life is hard for pilots at entry level. They may have to join small companies and settle for salary as low as Rs 25,000, but, as they gather experience, it gets better. In about three years, one can aspire for a job in a top airline with a good pay and perks.
Air hostess and flight purser posts need 10+2, and sometimes, a one-year diploma certificate. Major cities have training academies where professional training for these posts is imparted. Many airlines have their own training schools, where admission is through tests. After the course, students are sometimes absorbed by the airline.
Course fees depend on the reputation of the academy and the placement opportunities offered. Along with the minimum qualification, one needs superior interpersonal skills, a pleasing personality, fluency in English and knowledge of at least two other languages, either Indian or foreign. A service-oriented mindset will be an added feather in the cap.

The ground gang
Ground jobs are neither less exciting nor less paying than the in-flight jobs. Everywhere in the airport, be it in the lounges or on the runway, a great deal of technology is involved. Engineers from different branches are required to maintain the facilities. Candidates with engineering degrees, right from mechanical to electronics, computer science and IT are needed to fit in the different job profiles.
Airport management calls for overseeing a hundred services and men and machines with precision. No delay can be allowed here. No error can be tolerated as it can harm lives. For such jobs, an MBA with airport or aviation management gives you the perfect advantage. MBA logistics or SCM (supply chain management) can get you a good position with cargo and logistics companies.
The malls, restaurants and the car rental companies look for candidates with qualifications in travel, tourism and retail sales. Jobs range from store manager to store executive or sales assistant. The security systems must be working at all times to ensure safety of the infrastructure and the people. Security experts are required in different capacities right from systems monitoring to guards.
Careers in this industry are highly rewarding and there is a real dearth of talent. Those who can demonstrate qualities like efficiency, spirit of perfection, time management skills and, above all, the ability to be flexible when needed, have the edge.
The aviation industry offers some of the best perks, facilities and growth possibilities compared to the same roles in other industries. It also provides the chance to work in other countries early in one’s career.
Look at the benefits, weigh your chances and then, get ready to take off.
11/07/10  K.V. Rajasekher/The Week

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