The airline industry offers excellent opportunities for glamorous, exciting and rewarding careers, ranging from high flying jobs like that of pilots, flight engineers, flight attendants, and also ground jobs in management, administration and communications... A Goan Observer special focus feature exerpted from "A Directory of Higher Education 2004" published by Malayala Manorama (Rs.70). It is available at Varsha Bookstall, Panjim...

THE MOST glamorous and exciting job in aviation is that of the commercial pilot. Preparation of the flight plan, analysing meteorological reports, checking the airworthiness of the aircraft, checking the fuel and cargo load, monitoring the automatic flying system and manoeuvring, navigational and communications systems are some of the duties of the pilot. Along with technical expertise, he should be physically and mentally alert and possess nerves of steel. In adverse circumstances, he should be a leader to his team and have the courage and confidence to make quick decisions.

TRAINING PROCESS
BASIC qualification for pilot training is successful completion of 1O+2/equivalent with 50% marks in Physics and Maths. The applicant should have completed 17 years of age.

The first step in Pilot training is acquiring of Student Pilot Licence (SPL). Thereafter he can start flight training to get Private Pilot Licence (PPL). This includes 60 hours of flying comprising 20 hours of dual flying, 20 hours of solo flying and 5 hours cross country flying. Theoretical examinations have to be passed in subjects like Air Regulation, Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Aircraft and Engines. After PPL another 190 hours of flying training is required for Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL) i.e. a consolidated 250 hours of flying training. A flight radio operator’s licence and radio telephone licence have to be obtained. During CPL, the candidate should have exposure to a range of aircrafts and fulfill other condition like specified hours of solo flying, cross country flying and height flying. Theoretical papers have to be cleared and medical tests passed. It usually takes two to three years before required flying hours and classroom learning are completed.

Entry to the PPL course is through an entrance test conducted at certain centres. The test is based on subjects like English, General Knowledge, Maths, Physics and Chemistry.

Applications are called in April and sent to The Director General of Civil Aviation (Training Section) Technical Centre, Opp. Safdarjang Airport, New Delhi-110 003.

PILOT APTITUDE TEST
The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRAU) is the premier flying institute in India. The Akademi offers opportunity to ascertain ones aptitude for flying through the Pilot Aptitude Test. The assessment report is issued immediately after the test.
FOR LICENSING INQUIRIES IN U.K.

CONTACT:
1. Civil Aviation Authority, Flight Crew Licensing, Aviation House, South Area, Gatwick Airport, Gatwick, West Sussex RH6 OYR
FOR LIST OF CERTIFIED PILOT SCHOOLS IN U.S. CONTACT:
1. Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC-20402
2. Airline Pilots Association, 1625, Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036
Career Prospects: Trained pilots can seek employment in government-owned or private airlines as commercial pilots, test pilots flying instructors, flight engineers etc. Employment opportunities are few and hence a CPL holder may not get immediate placement. Moreover keeping one’s licence updated is also expensive. But with more airlines becoming operational, one can hope for better prospects.

GLIDER PILOT’S LICENCES (GPL)
The GPL entitles a person to pilot any gilder aircraft. In order to study for GPL, the candidate should be 16 years of age. He must pass an oral examination in Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Aircraft and Instruments. He should also have completed 10 hours of flight time including 3 hours of solo flying and have the experience of 75 take offs and landings in a glider in the seven month period prior to the date of application for licence. He also has to pass a flying test. The licence is valid for 24/12 months depending on the age of the applicant.

FLIGHT RADIO TELEPHONE OPERATORS LICENCE
This entitles the holder to work as flight radio operator on aircrafts. The candidate should be 18 years old and possess a valid radio telephone operators certificate. He will be required to pass a test to establish his knowledge of current communications systems. He should have a minimum of four months experience as flight radio operator and 25 hours of experience in flight during the past 12 months. The licence is valid for 12 months.

PRIVATE HELICOPTER PILOT’S LICENCE (PHPL)
PHPL entitles the holder to fly helicopters but not for remuneration. The applicant should be 17 years of age and has to pass a written examination in Air Regulation, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology and Aircraft and Engines. He should have experience of minimum 40 hours of flight time including atleast 15 hours solo flying and five hours of cross country during the 12 months prior to date of application. He also has to successfully complete a flying test. Licence is valid for either 24 or 12 months depending on the age of the applicant.

COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER PILOT LICENCE (CHPL)
Allows the holder to act as Pilot or co-pilot of any licenced helicopter. In order to qualify for CHPL, the applicant must be 18 years of age and possess a medical fitness certificate. He should pass a written examination in Air Regulation, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Aircraft and Engines and Signals (Practical). He should have completed 100 hours of flight time as pilot of a helicopter including specified hours of solo flying, cross country flying, instrument flying and night flying.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
Flight Attendants or the cabin crew as they are called, assist the passengers during the journey. They ensure the safety and comfort of the passengers. A pleasant demeanour, confidence, patience, resourcefulness, congeniality and tact are requisite traits in the flight attendant.

QUALIFICATION
Basic Qualification for the post of Flight Attendant are a) Graduation in any discipline, b) Fluency in English, Hindi, c) Knowledge of foreign and regional languages. d) Age between 19-22 years, e) Height 5' 2" or 5' 4" and above for women; 5’7" or 5' 10" and above for men; f) Unmarried. Preferred Qualification include degree in Hotel Management and Diploma/Degree in Catering and knowledge of first aid administration.

SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process varies between airlines. But generally interviews, group discussion, English proficiency tests etc. are the norm.

TRAINING
Most airlines train their newly inducted staff in procedures to be followed under normal conditions as well as in emergencies. Trainees are also instructed on personal grooming and etiquette.
Following institutions offer training for careers in aviation:
1. Indian Airlines, Central Training Establishment, Ferozguda, Hyderabad-500 001
2. Flytech Aviation Academy, 102, Al-Kausher Road, No.1, West Marredpally, Secunderabad-500 026

CAREER PROSPECTS
The service life of a flight attendant is short compared to other careers. Most airlines prefer recruiting fresh young hands periodically. Hence there is lot of scope for employment in this sector. But of course this is a highly competitive sector and it is important for those in service to maintain high levels of motivation, enthusiasm and physical fitness.

1. Academy of Carver Aviation Pvt. Ltd. Doddanavar Trade Centre, Near Fort, Dharwad Road, Belgaum-16.
2. Andhra Pradesh Flying Club, Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad
3. Assam Flying Club, Guwahati Airport, Guwahati-7
4. Bangalore Aeronautics Technical Services, Mysore Aerodrome, Karnataka.
5. Bihar Flying Institute, ‘Civil Aerodrome, Patna-1
6. Coimbatore Flying Club, Civil Aerodrome, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
7. Faculty of Flight Safety Service, Delhi Flying Club Ltd. Safdarjang Airport, New Delhi-110 003
8. Flying Club, Civil Aerodrome, Indore- 452005, MP
9. Flytech Aviation Academy, 102, Al-Kauser, Road No.
10, West Maredpally, Secunderabad-50002610. Government Aviation Training Institute, Civil aerodrome, Bhubaneshwar
11. Government Flying Training School, Jakkur Aerodrome, Yelahanka Post, Bangalore-560 064
12. Gujarat Flying Club, Civil Aerodrome, Hasni Road, Baroda-390 006, Gujarat
13. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, Fursatganj Airfield, Rae Bareli-229 302, Uttar Pradesh
14.Jamshedpur Co-operative Flying Club Ltd. Sonari Aerodrome, Jamshedpur, Bihar
15. Ludhiana Aviation Club, Civil Aerodrome, PO Sahnswal, Ludhiana, Punjab
16. Nagpur Flying Club, Sonegaon Aerodrome, Nagpur, Maharashtra
17. Orient Flight School, Administrative Office: 40, GST Road, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai-600 016. Operations at Civil Aerodrome, Pondicherry-605 008
18. Sahara India Aviation Academy; 249/250, Block A, Road No.6, National Highway No.8, Mahipalpur (Near I.G. International Airport) New Delhi-110 037
19. The Bombay Flying Club, Juhu Aerodrome, Juhu, Mumbai-400 049
20. Udan Flying School, Indore-452 005, Madhya Pradesh
21. West Bengal Flying Training Institute, Behala, Ca1cutta-700 060

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