Monday, April 30, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Now, AMEs enjoy high-flying perks
Bangalore: The salaries of aircraft maintenance engineers have gone up by 30-60% in the last two to four years. The shortage of aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) in India, though not as severe as that of pilots, has led to this significant rise. The salaries of certified AMEs, holding multiple licenses, have risen from around Rs 50,000-90,000 per month in 2005 to Rs 1.5-2.5 lakh per month.
Indian is in the process of giving hikes to its 750 AMEs. “Depending on seniority, the hike could be anywhere between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000 per month,” says Indian chairman Vishwapati Trivedi.
Salary package of AMEs at Indian is in the range of Rs 15,000-20,000 per month for a fresher to Rs 50,000-60,000 per month for experienced AMEs at entry level.
At SpiceJet, salaries at entry level range from Rs 12,000-15,000 per month at technician level (non-licensed) to Rs 1.5 lakh per month for certified maintenance engineers.
The pay package at Kingfisher Airlines, which plans to recruit around 40 AMEs this year, ranges from Rs 10,000 to 2 lakh. Similarly, low-cost airline Air Deccan, which currently employs 700 AMEs, pays Rs 65,000 to 2.4 lakh per month.
30/04/07 Urvashi Jha/Economic Times
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Indian is in the process of giving hikes to its 750 AMEs. “Depending on seniority, the hike could be anywhere between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000 per month,” says Indian chairman Vishwapati Trivedi.
Salary package of AMEs at Indian is in the range of Rs 15,000-20,000 per month for a fresher to Rs 50,000-60,000 per month for experienced AMEs at entry level.
At SpiceJet, salaries at entry level range from Rs 12,000-15,000 per month at technician level (non-licensed) to Rs 1.5 lakh per month for certified maintenance engineers.
The pay package at Kingfisher Airlines, which plans to recruit around 40 AMEs this year, ranges from Rs 10,000 to 2 lakh. Similarly, low-cost airline Air Deccan, which currently employs 700 AMEs, pays Rs 65,000 to 2.4 lakh per month.
30/04/07 Urvashi Jha/Economic Times
Boeing unit tries to speed pilot training to fill high demand
As The Boeing Co. and Airbus sell more planes than ever, many of those planes are headed to parts of the world where airlines are desperate for pilots.
With such demand, Alteon is testing a program that can cut training time in half. Students will spend much more time in ground-based simulators and far less time actually flying a plane -- and that has critics worried.
Training pilots to fly commercial jetliners is difficult, expensive and time-consuming.
It can take as long as three years to train someone who has never flown any kind of plane to fly commercial jets as first officer. So the industry is closely watching what is happening at Alteon's flight training school in Brisbane, Australia.
The framework for the new program, known as the Multi-Crew Pilots License, or MPL, was established last year by the International Civil Aviation Organization, an agency of the United Nations.
Alteon's Carbary said Boeing worked with regulators and customers to "enhance" what ICAO proposed. The aim is to teach students from the beginning the skills they need to fly in a multicrew jetliner. Instead of accumulating a couple of hundred or more hours flying in a small, single-engine plane, the Brisbane students will spend a lot of their training in a Boeing 737-800 simulator. They will rotate their time in the simulator as captain, first officer and as an observer.
In other words, they learn to be a crew member flying a full-motion simulator that is as realistic as the cockpit of a 737, rather than accumulating flight time in a single-engine Cessna 152.
In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration requires 250 flight hours to attain a commercial license. Most first officers would have many more hours than that.
The MPL program established by ICAO requires students to receive 70 hours of actual flight time, 10 hours of which must be solo.
But Alteon has gone beyond what ICAO requires, according to Marsha Bell, marketing director for Alteon who was previously vice president of Alteon's first officer programs.
Alteon's cadets will spend at least 83 hours in a single-engine Diamond 40 plane. They will also spend 117 hours in simulators, first in a Diamond 40 simulator and then in the Boeing 737-800 simulator.
The Alteon cadets each will be required to complete 33 missions in the Boeing simulator as captain, 33 missions as first officer and 33 missions as the observer. Each training mission will last about two hours.
30/04/07 James Wallace/Seattle Post Intelligencer, US
To read the news in full |
PermaLink With such demand, Alteon is testing a program that can cut training time in half. Students will spend much more time in ground-based simulators and far less time actually flying a plane -- and that has critics worried.
Training pilots to fly commercial jetliners is difficult, expensive and time-consuming.
It can take as long as three years to train someone who has never flown any kind of plane to fly commercial jets as first officer. So the industry is closely watching what is happening at Alteon's flight training school in Brisbane, Australia.
The framework for the new program, known as the Multi-Crew Pilots License, or MPL, was established last year by the International Civil Aviation Organization, an agency of the United Nations.
Alteon's Carbary said Boeing worked with regulators and customers to "enhance" what ICAO proposed. The aim is to teach students from the beginning the skills they need to fly in a multicrew jetliner. Instead of accumulating a couple of hundred or more hours flying in a small, single-engine plane, the Brisbane students will spend a lot of their training in a Boeing 737-800 simulator. They will rotate their time in the simulator as captain, first officer and as an observer.
In other words, they learn to be a crew member flying a full-motion simulator that is as realistic as the cockpit of a 737, rather than accumulating flight time in a single-engine Cessna 152.
In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration requires 250 flight hours to attain a commercial license. Most first officers would have many more hours than that.
The MPL program established by ICAO requires students to receive 70 hours of actual flight time, 10 hours of which must be solo.
But Alteon has gone beyond what ICAO requires, according to Marsha Bell, marketing director for Alteon who was previously vice president of Alteon's first officer programs.
Alteon's cadets will spend at least 83 hours in a single-engine Diamond 40 plane. They will also spend 117 hours in simulators, first in a Diamond 40 simulator and then in the Boeing 737-800 simulator.
The Alteon cadets each will be required to complete 33 missions in the Boeing simulator as captain, 33 missions as first officer and 33 missions as the observer. Each training mission will last about two hours.
30/04/07 James Wallace/Seattle Post Intelligencer, US
Friday, April 27, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Air India's Cadet Pilot recruitement soon: Minister
Air India proposes to take Science/Engineering graduates as Cadet Pilots. This information was given by Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel in Lok Sabha today.
Under the scheme, Science and Engineering graduates who have passed in First Class will be recruited as Cadet Pilots after they successfully go through the Written Test/Interview/Psychometric & Pilot Aptitude Test/Medical Test. This has been done considering the expansion plans of Air India and Air India Express. It is estimated that Air India requires a strength of about 1500 Pilots by the time all the aircraft are inducted into the fleet.
Air India is in the process of selecting the Training Institute for this purpose. The Cadet Pilots will have to arrange their own finance/study loan for their flying training. The cost of obtaining Commercial Pilot Licence would be approximately Rs. 20 lakhs. They will also be required to sign a Contract to serve the company for a minimum period of seven years.
26/04/07 Press Information Bureau (press release)
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Under the scheme, Science and Engineering graduates who have passed in First Class will be recruited as Cadet Pilots after they successfully go through the Written Test/Interview/Psychometric & Pilot Aptitude Test/Medical Test. This has been done considering the expansion plans of Air India and Air India Express. It is estimated that Air India requires a strength of about 1500 Pilots by the time all the aircraft are inducted into the fleet.
Air India is in the process of selecting the Training Institute for this purpose. The Cadet Pilots will have to arrange their own finance/study loan for their flying training. The cost of obtaining Commercial Pilot Licence would be approximately Rs. 20 lakhs. They will also be required to sign a Contract to serve the company for a minimum period of seven years.
26/04/07 Press Information Bureau (press release)
SBoP, Frankfinn sign MoU for loans to students
Patiala: The State Bank of Patiala and Frankfinn Aviation Services Ltd today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for providing loans to its students all over the country.
The tie-up makes State Bank of Patiala (SBoP) as Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training’s “Preferred Partner Bank”, which will ensure 100 per cent financing of the tuition fee of its students for the one-year courses in aviation crew and hospitality and travel industry.
Announcing the tie-up, Frankfinn’s vice-president, Finance, Ashok Chawla said the career loan would be available for all its students in its 65 centres in the country. The total fee for the one-year course is about Rs 1.2 lakh per year.
The general manager, Planning and Development, SBoP, Sebastian Chacko, said the bank would provide loans at 12 per cent floating rate of interest and the repayment would start only after the course ends.
26/04/07 Chandigarh Newsline
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The tie-up makes State Bank of Patiala (SBoP) as Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training’s “Preferred Partner Bank”, which will ensure 100 per cent financing of the tuition fee of its students for the one-year courses in aviation crew and hospitality and travel industry.
Announcing the tie-up, Frankfinn’s vice-president, Finance, Ashok Chawla said the career loan would be available for all its students in its 65 centres in the country. The total fee for the one-year course is about Rs 1.2 lakh per year.
The general manager, Planning and Development, SBoP, Sebastian Chacko, said the bank would provide loans at 12 per cent floating rate of interest and the repayment would start only after the course ends.
26/04/07 Chandigarh Newsline
Thursday, April 26, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
A-I to train pilot recruits abroad
New Delhi: Air-India is in the process of recruiting 100 fresh science graduates this year ~ the process would continue for seven consecutive years ~ to meet the pilot shortage it would face when 68 brand new Boeing aircraft are inducted by 2011 in a phased manner.
A-I would spend over 140 crore ~ Rs 20 lakh per candidate ~ to send these recruits for courses at four premier flying schools based in the US and two European nations. “After successful completion of the flying course, these qualified pilots would have to sign a bond for 10 years failing which Air India would recover all the dues from them…” the executive director of Air-India, Mr S Venkat, told The Statesman.
According to Mr Venkat, Air-India has conducted a written examination across the country and the selection process would be completed in a month or two. The 100 selected candidates would be send abroad for training from July. Such an initiative has not come from private airlines, who prefer to hire foreign pilots who generally demand at least Rs 3 to 5 lakh per month, double what Indian pilots are paid.
The government is also planning to set up a National Flying Training Institute at Gondia, Maharashtra. But till now, only a token provision of Rs 100 crore has been made in 2005-06. A detailed project report is being drafted.
The total number of additional aircraft for private and national carriers in the next five years is estimated at 500 for which an additional 5,000 pilots would be required. “Currently, 2,940 pilots are employed as against the requirement of 3,160 pilots, leaving a shortfall of around seven per cent. Within the next five years the industry will need 4,500 more,” said an A-I official.
As of now, A-I faces a shortfall of 118 pilots. Other carriers in India also do not have enough pilots. There are more than 25 flying clubs in India, but only one pilot training academy of international standard, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy in Rae Bareli. It churns out about 40 commercial pilot licence holders every year.
25/04/07 Sanjay Singh/The Statesman
To read the news in full |
PermaLink A-I would spend over 140 crore ~ Rs 20 lakh per candidate ~ to send these recruits for courses at four premier flying schools based in the US and two European nations. “After successful completion of the flying course, these qualified pilots would have to sign a bond for 10 years failing which Air India would recover all the dues from them…” the executive director of Air-India, Mr S Venkat, told The Statesman.
According to Mr Venkat, Air-India has conducted a written examination across the country and the selection process would be completed in a month or two. The 100 selected candidates would be send abroad for training from July. Such an initiative has not come from private airlines, who prefer to hire foreign pilots who generally demand at least Rs 3 to 5 lakh per month, double what Indian pilots are paid.
The government is also planning to set up a National Flying Training Institute at Gondia, Maharashtra. But till now, only a token provision of Rs 100 crore has been made in 2005-06. A detailed project report is being drafted.
The total number of additional aircraft for private and national carriers in the next five years is estimated at 500 for which an additional 5,000 pilots would be required. “Currently, 2,940 pilots are employed as against the requirement of 3,160 pilots, leaving a shortfall of around seven per cent. Within the next five years the industry will need 4,500 more,” said an A-I official.
As of now, A-I faces a shortfall of 118 pilots. Other carriers in India also do not have enough pilots. There are more than 25 flying clubs in India, but only one pilot training academy of international standard, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy in Rae Bareli. It churns out about 40 commercial pilot licence holders every year.
25/04/07 Sanjay Singh/The Statesman
Indian carriers flying abroad to hone talent
New Delhi: Indian carriers are looking at foreign skies not just to hire expat pilots, but also to groom their own talent. More and more airlines are tying up with foreign training institutes to train their pilots.
Kingfisher Airlines has an agreement with California-based American School of Aviation and Phoenix-based Sabena Flight Academy. IndiGo recently got in touch with Canada-based CAE
while SpiceJet has a tie-up with United Aviation, which sends its students to Philippines for pilot training.
Some 150 pilots are trained every year by 35 flying schools across India whereas the demand is for at least 500 pilots a year. Says Kingfisher Airlines executive vice-president Hitesh Patel: “While it takes two years to complete pilot training in India, overseas it takes only nine months to a year.”
At Kingfisher airlines, the training procedure goes like this. Students are first screened who are then trained at American School of Aviation and Sabena Flight Academy as per Kingfisher curriculum. “We are also in talks with an Australia-based flying school. If each school churns 15 pilots a year, our growth target will be met,” he adds. The airline also reimburses a part of student’s fee after completion of the course.
SpiceJet plans to recruit around 12-15 cadet pilots each month for the next one year. Agreeing with the trend, IndiGo CEO Bruce Ashby says: “Till the time Indian pilot training academies begin churning out enough qualified pilots, airlines in India will seek pilots trained abroad.”
26/04/07 Vishakha Talreja/Economic Times
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Kingfisher Airlines has an agreement with California-based American School of Aviation and Phoenix-based Sabena Flight Academy. IndiGo recently got in touch with Canada-based CAE
while SpiceJet has a tie-up with United Aviation, which sends its students to Philippines for pilot training.
Some 150 pilots are trained every year by 35 flying schools across India whereas the demand is for at least 500 pilots a year. Says Kingfisher Airlines executive vice-president Hitesh Patel: “While it takes two years to complete pilot training in India, overseas it takes only nine months to a year.”
At Kingfisher airlines, the training procedure goes like this. Students are first screened who are then trained at American School of Aviation and Sabena Flight Academy as per Kingfisher curriculum. “We are also in talks with an Australia-based flying school. If each school churns 15 pilots a year, our growth target will be met,” he adds. The airline also reimburses a part of student’s fee after completion of the course.
SpiceJet plans to recruit around 12-15 cadet pilots each month for the next one year. Agreeing with the trend, IndiGo CEO Bruce Ashby says: “Till the time Indian pilot training academies begin churning out enough qualified pilots, airlines in India will seek pilots trained abroad.”
26/04/07 Vishakha Talreja/Economic Times
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Airlines Find Hiring Pilots Increasingly Difficult
Globally, airlines have ordered hundreds of new planes, the number of air connections is growing, but shortages of people able to work on them are starting to appear in Poland.
The Polish low-cost carrier Centralwings is planning to employ 120 pilots by the year 2010. Lufthansa is looking for 360 people, while Ireland's Ryanair will need 1,500 of them in the next five years. It is better not to mention the staff requirements of Asian airlines. It looks like there will not be enough people to pilot their planes.
In such a situation, airlines are left with no other choice but train their pilots.
"Our pilots fly in Norway, Ireland, Canada, India, the RSA, Vietnam and Singapore," said Mieczyslaw Gorak, director of an air transport centre at Rzeszow Technical University, which produces 15 graduate pilots each year.
There are around fifty air training centres in Poland. The problem is that you cannot get a licence to fly a large plane at them. Airlines are now fiercely competing for pilots. They are losing their pilots, because they are outbid by foreign rivals.
Polish carriers usually lose the battle for skilled professionals, because they are unable to pay them well. In Poland, pilots flying in Poland only get ZL4,000-6,000 net monthly. The ones flying on trans-Atlantic routes have the chance to get ZL20,000. Meanwhile, Ryanair is paying its pilots around EUR6,000 net. The offers from India are even more lucrative.
24/04/07 Polish News Bulletin/Epicos.com (press release), Switzerland
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The Polish low-cost carrier Centralwings is planning to employ 120 pilots by the year 2010. Lufthansa is looking for 360 people, while Ireland's Ryanair will need 1,500 of them in the next five years. It is better not to mention the staff requirements of Asian airlines. It looks like there will not be enough people to pilot their planes.
In such a situation, airlines are left with no other choice but train their pilots.
"Our pilots fly in Norway, Ireland, Canada, India, the RSA, Vietnam and Singapore," said Mieczyslaw Gorak, director of an air transport centre at Rzeszow Technical University, which produces 15 graduate pilots each year.
There are around fifty air training centres in Poland. The problem is that you cannot get a licence to fly a large plane at them. Airlines are now fiercely competing for pilots. They are losing their pilots, because they are outbid by foreign rivals.
Polish carriers usually lose the battle for skilled professionals, because they are unable to pay them well. In Poland, pilots flying in Poland only get ZL4,000-6,000 net monthly. The ones flying on trans-Atlantic routes have the chance to get ZL20,000. Meanwhile, Ryanair is paying its pilots around EUR6,000 net. The offers from India are even more lucrative.
24/04/07 Polish News Bulletin/Epicos.com (press release), Switzerland
Developing human capital
ITFT is among one of the few institutes in the country to offer international standard combined courses in the tourism, hospitality and airline disciplines. Praveen K Singh profiles the institute:
Established in 1994, primarily with the aim to develop quality human capital for the service sector, the Institute of Tourism & Future Management Trends (ITFT), has emerged as a premier educational, training and research institute of North India. It is among one of the few institutes in the country to offer international standard combined courses in tourism, hospitality and airline disciplines.
Situated 250 kilometres, north of Delhi, ITFT group is a conglomerate involved in a range of activities, from academics to developing rural tourism to helping retiring and retired defence personnel find suitable openings after retirement.
ITFT is actively involved in academics, research and development, NRI research and studies, consultancy for service industry projects, tourism, hospitality and airlines, global human resource solutions and consultancy, global conferences, events and communication, resettlement of ex-defence personnel in service industry, ayurveda and health tourism,and sustainable eco-tourism research & studies.
25/04/07 Express Hotelier
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Established in 1994, primarily with the aim to develop quality human capital for the service sector, the Institute of Tourism & Future Management Trends (ITFT), has emerged as a premier educational, training and research institute of North India. It is among one of the few institutes in the country to offer international standard combined courses in tourism, hospitality and airline disciplines.
Situated 250 kilometres, north of Delhi, ITFT group is a conglomerate involved in a range of activities, from academics to developing rural tourism to helping retiring and retired defence personnel find suitable openings after retirement.
ITFT is actively involved in academics, research and development, NRI research and studies, consultancy for service industry projects, tourism, hospitality and airlines, global human resource solutions and consultancy, global conferences, events and communication, resettlement of ex-defence personnel in service industry, ayurveda and health tourism,and sustainable eco-tourism research & studies.
25/04/07 Express Hotelier
Sunday, April 22, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Dreams in eyes, they prepare to fly high
Ludhiana: Manu Bharadwaj, a student of M.Sc (mathematics) at Guru Nanak Girls College, Model Town, is no more the shy girl she was a few months ago. She is a confident young woman, looking forward to her career in the aviation industry. Gayatri Malhotra, a student of MA (Hindi) from SCD Government College for Boys, is appearing for placement with Qatar Airlines.
These two young women and many more like them from Flying Cats Airhostess Training School, along with scores of others from AHA Air Hostess Academy and Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training, represent the young generation of Ludhianvis who are raring to give flight to their dreams.
The air hostess academies, which made their first base in Ludhiana, now have full-fledged institutes all over the state. Youngsters pursuing their bachelor’s degree are looking forward to pursuing a successful career in the aviation and hospitality industry.
"The minimum qualification required for the course is Class XII, but we also have graduates and post-graduates coming to us. Aviation industry needs talented people with good communication skills" aid Chetna Sharma, centre manager of AHA Academy.
These academies also attract youngsters from towns adjoining Ludhiana like Mullanpur, Jagraon, Doraha and Sahnewal. Frankfinn institute has a seizable number of students from areas such as Moga and Barnala. Their students are now well-placed with national and international airlines.
The Frankfinn institute also has a tie-up with Air Deccan. For two years, Frankfinn students will be recruited as cabin crew in the airlines, with up to 400 guaranteed placements.
21/04/07 Megha Mann/Ludhiana Newsline
To read the news in full |
PermaLink These two young women and many more like them from Flying Cats Airhostess Training School, along with scores of others from AHA Air Hostess Academy and Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training, represent the young generation of Ludhianvis who are raring to give flight to their dreams.
The air hostess academies, which made their first base in Ludhiana, now have full-fledged institutes all over the state. Youngsters pursuing their bachelor’s degree are looking forward to pursuing a successful career in the aviation and hospitality industry.
"The minimum qualification required for the course is Class XII, but we also have graduates and post-graduates coming to us. Aviation industry needs talented people with good communication skills" aid Chetna Sharma, centre manager of AHA Academy.
These academies also attract youngsters from towns adjoining Ludhiana like Mullanpur, Jagraon, Doraha and Sahnewal. Frankfinn institute has a seizable number of students from areas such as Moga and Barnala. Their students are now well-placed with national and international airlines.
The Frankfinn institute also has a tie-up with Air Deccan. For two years, Frankfinn students will be recruited as cabin crew in the airlines, with up to 400 guaranteed placements.
21/04/07 Megha Mann/Ludhiana Newsline
Saturday, April 21, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Extreme Pilot Shortage-An Opportunity Unparalleled
In 2005 India's aviation sector was freed of bureaucratic shackles and stifling Govt restrictions & the industry is now poised to expand by leaps and bounds.
At present, existing private domestic carriers as well as the new startups have a total of 337 aircraft on order, mostly Boeing and Airbus variants and some ATR and Embraer aircraft.
Not to be left behind, the national carriers have also planned substantial acquisitions. Air India has finalised a revised fleet plan through which its fleet size would be enhanced from the present level of 34 aircraft to 74 aircraft by the year 2012-13. This entails purchase of 50 aircraft from Boeing (8 Boeing 777-200LR, 15 Boeing 777-300ER and 27 Boeing 787s) at a projected cost of Rs 30000 crore (US$ 7 billion).
Acquisition of 43 aircraft (19 Airbus A319, 4 Airbus A320 and 20 Airbus A321) along with related spares, spare engines, equipment, etc has since been approved for Indian Airlines at a total cost of Rs 9700 crore (US$2.2 billion).
It is anyone’s guess as to Human Resource requirements, especially pilots , airhostesses, flight attendants and other cabin crew, that are going to come up in the Aviation Sector. Demand is much above the number of people acquiring training for the same. Jet Airways along with Sahara India has about 47 percent share of the domestic aviation market, followed by Indian Airlines (28 per cent), Air Deccan (11 per cent), Kingfisher (6 per cent) and SpiceJet (5 per cent) as on October2006.
Jet Airways tops the list of domestic and national carrier operators with 8,168 flights operating till June 2005. Indian Airlines ranks second with 7,562 flights, followed by Sahara (3,225 flights), Air Deccan (2,889 flights), Spice Jet (483 flights) and Kingfisher Airlines (267 flights).
The sudden boom in Indian aviation has caught even the normally market savvy global aerospace manufacturers unawares. Recently, both Boeing and Airbus said they had underestimated Indian growth. This means global players are also coming into the scene.
It wasn't surprising since statistics compiled by Airbus Industrie showed that Indian carriers accounted for 327 out of the 2,140 firm orders for new aircraft that were placed with it and rival Boeing in 2005. This does not take into account the orders placed for smaller airplanes with other manufacturers like ATR and Dassault - which, too, are flooded with offers from private Indian carriers.
20/04/07 Sristys Aviation/PRLog.Org (press release), Romania
To read the news in full |
PermaLink At present, existing private domestic carriers as well as the new startups have a total of 337 aircraft on order, mostly Boeing and Airbus variants and some ATR and Embraer aircraft.
Not to be left behind, the national carriers have also planned substantial acquisitions. Air India has finalised a revised fleet plan through which its fleet size would be enhanced from the present level of 34 aircraft to 74 aircraft by the year 2012-13. This entails purchase of 50 aircraft from Boeing (8 Boeing 777-200LR, 15 Boeing 777-300ER and 27 Boeing 787s) at a projected cost of Rs 30000 crore (US$ 7 billion).
Acquisition of 43 aircraft (19 Airbus A319, 4 Airbus A320 and 20 Airbus A321) along with related spares, spare engines, equipment, etc has since been approved for Indian Airlines at a total cost of Rs 9700 crore (US$2.2 billion).
It is anyone’s guess as to Human Resource requirements, especially pilots , airhostesses, flight attendants and other cabin crew, that are going to come up in the Aviation Sector. Demand is much above the number of people acquiring training for the same. Jet Airways along with Sahara India has about 47 percent share of the domestic aviation market, followed by Indian Airlines (28 per cent), Air Deccan (11 per cent), Kingfisher (6 per cent) and SpiceJet (5 per cent) as on October2006.
Jet Airways tops the list of domestic and national carrier operators with 8,168 flights operating till June 2005. Indian Airlines ranks second with 7,562 flights, followed by Sahara (3,225 flights), Air Deccan (2,889 flights), Spice Jet (483 flights) and Kingfisher Airlines (267 flights).
The sudden boom in Indian aviation has caught even the normally market savvy global aerospace manufacturers unawares. Recently, both Boeing and Airbus said they had underestimated Indian growth. This means global players are also coming into the scene.
It wasn't surprising since statistics compiled by Airbus Industrie showed that Indian carriers accounted for 327 out of the 2,140 firm orders for new aircraft that were placed with it and rival Boeing in 2005. This does not take into account the orders placed for smaller airplanes with other manufacturers like ATR and Dassault - which, too, are flooded with offers from private Indian carriers.
20/04/07 Sristys Aviation/PRLog.Org (press release), Romania
Friday, April 20, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
New IATA aviation courses in India
New IATA courses in India are launched at the Speedwings Academy for Aviation Services, Cochin, the leading IATA Authorised training centres in South India.
Airline and airport customer service, cargo marketing and perishable cargo handling, airline call center training etc are some of the courses based on airport operation, ICAO, funding, master plan, safety and security systems including navigational systems. Cost reduction and unhealthy competition from LCCs are a threat to the industry. In this context, IATA comes up with the airline call center training to provide professional information and service to the Customers Esseldeurs conferred the authorisation to conduct seven new IATA aviation courses on the Speedwings aviation academy.
Examinations will be held twice in an year - March & September and the international diplomas will be awarded by IATA . The courses are:
>>Airline Customer Service:
• Ticket office, reservations, check-in, traffic, operations, baggage service and tourist information desks
• Cargo reservations and receiving
• Public relations and sales support personnel
• Flight attendants
>>Cargo Marketing:
• Cargo sales professionals
• Marketing and sales managers
• Regional or district sales managers with cargo responsibilities
• Senior cargo agents and specialists
• Airport managers wanting a cargo perspective for future business development
• Cargo marketing consultants.
>>Shipping Perishable Cargo:
• Airline acceptance staff, shippers and freight forwarders
• Cargo sales representatives
• Special cargo training specialists
• Auditors from Departments of Transportation, Civil Aviation and Health Authorities
• Operations and station managers.
>>Introduction to Air Transportation:
• New or experienced managers coming into aviation from another industry
• Recently promoted employees working within the industry
• Individuals wishing to enhance their understanding of the air transportation environment.
>>Introduction to the Airline Industry
>>Airline Call Centre Training
19/04/07 Express TravelWorld
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Airline and airport customer service, cargo marketing and perishable cargo handling, airline call center training etc are some of the courses based on airport operation, ICAO, funding, master plan, safety and security systems including navigational systems. Cost reduction and unhealthy competition from LCCs are a threat to the industry. In this context, IATA comes up with the airline call center training to provide professional information and service to the Customers Esseldeurs conferred the authorisation to conduct seven new IATA aviation courses on the Speedwings aviation academy.
Examinations will be held twice in an year - March & September and the international diplomas will be awarded by IATA . The courses are:
>>Airline Customer Service:
• Ticket office, reservations, check-in, traffic, operations, baggage service and tourist information desks
• Cargo reservations and receiving
• Public relations and sales support personnel
• Flight attendants
>>Cargo Marketing:
• Cargo sales professionals
• Marketing and sales managers
• Regional or district sales managers with cargo responsibilities
• Senior cargo agents and specialists
• Airport managers wanting a cargo perspective for future business development
• Cargo marketing consultants.
>>Shipping Perishable Cargo:
• Airline acceptance staff, shippers and freight forwarders
• Cargo sales representatives
• Special cargo training specialists
• Auditors from Departments of Transportation, Civil Aviation and Health Authorities
• Operations and station managers.
>>Introduction to Air Transportation:
• New or experienced managers coming into aviation from another industry
• Recently promoted employees working within the industry
• Individuals wishing to enhance their understanding of the air transportation environment.
>>Introduction to the Airline Industry
>>Airline Call Centre Training
19/04/07 Express TravelWorld
Thursday, April 19, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
N.B. flight college first in Canada to join global network
The Moncton Flight College has become the first Canadian school to join a new global network of aviation training facilities — a network that aims to help with a shortage of airline pilots.
The CAE Global Academy, established in 2006, designs training programs to meet the needs of specific airlines. The network was started by Canadian company Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd., which takes the needs of specific airlines around the world and develops educational programs around them.
The result is specific education programs that are targeted to people who want to get into the airline industry.
Mike Doiron, president and CEO of Moncton Flight College, said one of CAE's exercises involves working with airlines to supply qualified flight crews, which is important because there is a worldwide shortage of pilots.
"There is a lot of work being done to find suitable candidates and getting them into the airline seats," Doiron said.
Demand for pilots dipped during the airline industry downturn that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but since then the industry has bounced back and the demand for pilots in Asia is growing steadily, he said.
Newly designed programs will offer graduates a chance to jump into a hot market, particularly in countries like China and India.
The new program will give students in Moncton access to more advanced flight simulators, which will help shape their skills to fit the needs of specific airlines.
18/04/07 CBC New Brunswick, Canada
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The CAE Global Academy, established in 2006, designs training programs to meet the needs of specific airlines. The network was started by Canadian company Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd., which takes the needs of specific airlines around the world and develops educational programs around them.
The result is specific education programs that are targeted to people who want to get into the airline industry.
Mike Doiron, president and CEO of Moncton Flight College, said one of CAE's exercises involves working with airlines to supply qualified flight crews, which is important because there is a worldwide shortage of pilots.
"There is a lot of work being done to find suitable candidates and getting them into the airline seats," Doiron said.
Demand for pilots dipped during the airline industry downturn that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but since then the industry has bounced back and the demand for pilots in Asia is growing steadily, he said.
Newly designed programs will offer graduates a chance to jump into a hot market, particularly in countries like China and India.
The new program will give students in Moncton access to more advanced flight simulators, which will help shape their skills to fit the needs of specific airlines.
18/04/07 CBC New Brunswick, Canada
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
'EAA offering courses on all aspects of the sector'
Excellence Aviation Academy or EAA, claiming to be the country's first academy for training people to the requirement of aviation and ancillary industries, will offer courses in hospitality, travel, tourism, cargo and security.
The academy management told presspersons that of the required 150 professionals for each aircraft, pilots and in-flight crew form only 30 with the rest made up of technical and non-technical personnel like customer service, check in staff, security, cargo handling, ramp operations, etc.
Mr Parvez Damania, Chairman, EAA, said emphasis would be on training manpower in smaller cities. With more than 400 new aircraft booked by various airlines in India and limited space available in Mumbai and New Delhi airports, the companies will have no choice but to park them at other airports. The academy estimates the demand at 40,000 for non-technical staff in the near future. "We want to have our own centres and manpower ready to be employed (by these airlines)," Mr Damania said.
The academy is also pinning its growth prospects on modernisation of 80 small airports and the Nagpur Multi Modal Hub, which would require 20,000 personnel spread across every facet of aviation, academy officials said.
It will be finalising a tie-up with Dubai Aviation City in a month where 1,00,000 personnel would be required in the next five years, the Chief Executive Officer of EAA, Mr Prasan Yedekar, said.
In the first phase, the academy would be starting 24 centres on a franchisee model in Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Allahabad and other places. Also, Livewel Aviation Services will be EAA's partner in overall ground handling training and franchisee for Mumbai and Delhi. While the centre in Bhopal and Jabalpur will kick-start by May 15, the others will begin by early June.
18/04/07 Business Line/Moneycontrol.com
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The academy management told presspersons that of the required 150 professionals for each aircraft, pilots and in-flight crew form only 30 with the rest made up of technical and non-technical personnel like customer service, check in staff, security, cargo handling, ramp operations, etc.
Mr Parvez Damania, Chairman, EAA, said emphasis would be on training manpower in smaller cities. With more than 400 new aircraft booked by various airlines in India and limited space available in Mumbai and New Delhi airports, the companies will have no choice but to park them at other airports. The academy estimates the demand at 40,000 for non-technical staff in the near future. "We want to have our own centres and manpower ready to be employed (by these airlines)," Mr Damania said.
The academy is also pinning its growth prospects on modernisation of 80 small airports and the Nagpur Multi Modal Hub, which would require 20,000 personnel spread across every facet of aviation, academy officials said.
It will be finalising a tie-up with Dubai Aviation City in a month where 1,00,000 personnel would be required in the next five years, the Chief Executive Officer of EAA, Mr Prasan Yedekar, said.
In the first phase, the academy would be starting 24 centres on a franchisee model in Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Allahabad and other places. Also, Livewel Aviation Services will be EAA's partner in overall ground handling training and franchisee for Mumbai and Delhi. While the centre in Bhopal and Jabalpur will kick-start by May 15, the others will begin by early June.
18/04/07 Business Line/Moneycontrol.com
Monday, April 16, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Soaring high in the air
New Delhi: Not many young women considered flying a possible career option in the 1980s. But that did not deter Indraani Singh, the first Indian woman commander of Airbus 300. An achievement of that kind would have prompted many to rest on their laurels, but for Captain Indraani it was merely another chapter in the long path ahead.
Almost 10 years into her flying career, Indraani along with retired Air Marshal Denzil Keelor started non-government organisation Literacy India.
If one had conjured up a tale of great ambition and perseverance that lay behind her decision to be a pilot, Indraani de-mystifies it in one stroke. "Flying happened as I could not get into the college of arts," she says.
"I took to flying as writers would take to writing," says Indraani. "Flying for me is simple and about free floating. Each day you venture into new horizons," she says.
Indraani never comes across as a woman who would let challenging circumstances weigh her down. Being a woman in what was typically a male calling those days, Indraani did face subtle barbs aimed at her gender, but it never deterred her.
Confident she remained and with time she gained the confidence of others too, including her male colleagues. "When they see the way you handle emergencies and realise you are a professional, then respect follows," elaborates Indraani.
Being in the business of flying, Indraani says there have been emergencies too many. "Be it a bird hit, hydraulic failure or multiple engine failure, I have had it all," she says. Emergencies in air are also the time when faith in God is reinforced for many pilots. Indraani admits most pilots have an inherent faith. "Most of us have that connection with God; that link with spirituality. We are in another domain most of the time," she says, giving a peek into her spiritual side.
As for faith, Indraani says being alert and quick is quintessential to the job where a moment's slackness can mean life or death. "When you are flying you are responsible for the safety of your passengers. Further, you have to think ten times ahead of others and be prepared for the unforeseen," she explains.
The pilot who has clocked close to 9,000 hours and is still counting devotes considerable time working for underprivileged children as well as manages her family and is not intimidated by her multiple responsibilities.
16/04/07 P. Anima/The Hindu
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Almost 10 years into her flying career, Indraani along with retired Air Marshal Denzil Keelor started non-government organisation Literacy India.
If one had conjured up a tale of great ambition and perseverance that lay behind her decision to be a pilot, Indraani de-mystifies it in one stroke. "Flying happened as I could not get into the college of arts," she says.
"I took to flying as writers would take to writing," says Indraani. "Flying for me is simple and about free floating. Each day you venture into new horizons," she says.
Indraani never comes across as a woman who would let challenging circumstances weigh her down. Being a woman in what was typically a male calling those days, Indraani did face subtle barbs aimed at her gender, but it never deterred her.
Confident she remained and with time she gained the confidence of others too, including her male colleagues. "When they see the way you handle emergencies and realise you are a professional, then respect follows," elaborates Indraani.
Being in the business of flying, Indraani says there have been emergencies too many. "Be it a bird hit, hydraulic failure or multiple engine failure, I have had it all," she says. Emergencies in air are also the time when faith in God is reinforced for many pilots. Indraani admits most pilots have an inherent faith. "Most of us have that connection with God; that link with spirituality. We are in another domain most of the time," she says, giving a peek into her spiritual side.
As for faith, Indraani says being alert and quick is quintessential to the job where a moment's slackness can mean life or death. "When you are flying you are responsible for the safety of your passengers. Further, you have to think ten times ahead of others and be prepared for the unforeseen," she explains.
The pilot who has clocked close to 9,000 hours and is still counting devotes considerable time working for underprivileged children as well as manages her family and is not intimidated by her multiple responsibilities.
16/04/07 P. Anima/The Hindu
Saturday, April 14, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Surge in air traffic lures foreign pilots to fill Indian skies
New Delhi: As India's aviation industry booms, a crippling shortage of pilots has emerged as the biggest headache for airline chief executives.
With a fast-growing economy and a big middle class with more disposable income than ever before, new airlines have taken off. Millions of not-so-rich Indians are flying for the first time on dirt-cheap fares offered by new budget airlines.
These airlines have fleets of shiny new planes and snazzy outfits for cabin crew, but there is no one to fly them.
The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation in New Delhi estimates that India has 2800 pilots and will need 4500 more over the next five years.
Every year, the various training academies produce only about 250 pilots.
Airlines such as Kingfisher, Jet, Air Deccan and Indian Airlines are hiring foreign pilots to fill the gap. The resumes on the desk of Air Deccan chief executive, Captain G. R. Gopinath, are mainly from foreign pilots.
Of Air Deccan's 399 pilots, 140 are foreigners. Of Jet Airways' 780 pilots, 110 are foreigners. Virtually every airline has a large percentage of foreign pilots.
The average pilot's salary in India may be low by European or US standards but it goes a long way in India.
"I've got job security, good English language schools for my kids and a chance to explore a new culture," said Greg Pellman, an American who joined Air Deccan last year, one of 450 expatriate pilots in the country. "I wish I'd come earlier."
In a bid to fill the shortage, the Indian Government recently increased pilots' retirement age from 58 to 65. It is also planning a new training institute.
But there is a limit to how many foreigners an airline can hire. A Government regulation stipulates that at least one pilot in the cockpit has to be an Indian. Sensing future problems, some of the airlines have asked the Government to relax this requirement.
14/04/07 Amrit Dhillon/The Age, Australia
To read the news in full |
PermaLink With a fast-growing economy and a big middle class with more disposable income than ever before, new airlines have taken off. Millions of not-so-rich Indians are flying for the first time on dirt-cheap fares offered by new budget airlines.
These airlines have fleets of shiny new planes and snazzy outfits for cabin crew, but there is no one to fly them.
The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation in New Delhi estimates that India has 2800 pilots and will need 4500 more over the next five years.
Every year, the various training academies produce only about 250 pilots.
Airlines such as Kingfisher, Jet, Air Deccan and Indian Airlines are hiring foreign pilots to fill the gap. The resumes on the desk of Air Deccan chief executive, Captain G. R. Gopinath, are mainly from foreign pilots.
Of Air Deccan's 399 pilots, 140 are foreigners. Of Jet Airways' 780 pilots, 110 are foreigners. Virtually every airline has a large percentage of foreign pilots.
The average pilot's salary in India may be low by European or US standards but it goes a long way in India.
"I've got job security, good English language schools for my kids and a chance to explore a new culture," said Greg Pellman, an American who joined Air Deccan last year, one of 450 expatriate pilots in the country. "I wish I'd come earlier."
In a bid to fill the shortage, the Indian Government recently increased pilots' retirement age from 58 to 65. It is also planning a new training institute.
But there is a limit to how many foreigners an airline can hire. A Government regulation stipulates that at least one pilot in the cockpit has to be an Indian. Sensing future problems, some of the airlines have asked the Government to relax this requirement.
14/04/07 Amrit Dhillon/The Age, Australia
Bombay flying club to be revived soon
The Bombay Flying Club, country’s oldest flying club is out of service for the last 18 months, now the Club management is trying its best to revive it. “We are in the process to restart the club in the coming months as soon as we get things in the right place. We don’t have chief flying instructor (CFI) for flying operation of the club, the shortage of pilots in the Indian aviation market is the cause of concern to us, as flying instructors are opting for the airlines rather than flying club. They are paid four to five times higher than in flying club,” BL Bijlani, secretary of the Club said at an event recently. “Since we didn’t have a CFI, we couldn’t conduct any flight training. We do have ground training activities, but once those are completed, students have to wait to complete their flying hours,” Bijlani added.
Further, on the elaborating on the course fees to become commercial pilots, he said, “it will cost 17-20 lakh, whether you do it here or abroad and the fees is in no way going to come down, as the operational cost is going on increasing.” Expressing his concerns to revive Bombay Flying Club, alumni of the club, Capt Arun Godbole, Principal of Institute of Aviation and Aviation Safety, an education wing of the Federation of Indian Pilots, said it will be very difficult for Bombay flying club to operate from the current Juhu aerodrome in Mumbai, because of the increased air traffic. If possible they can take the plane 50 to 60 km away from Mumbai and can teach flying there.
On the CFI, he said that there must be some formula worked out among the flying clubs and airlines, giving some incentives to the current pilots working for the airlines to come forward and do some voluntary work for the flying clubs.
Till now, aspiring pilots, who have done ground training in India have no other option, but to go to foreign countries to complete their flying. The shortage of CFIs has been very troublesome, as students had to wait for a long time to finish accumulating their flying hours and hence majority turn abroad. But the move to start flying activities in Mumbai and Baroda will be a relief, said a source.
13/04/07 Nehul Jagdish Kumar/Merinews
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Further, on the elaborating on the course fees to become commercial pilots, he said, “it will cost 17-20 lakh, whether you do it here or abroad and the fees is in no way going to come down, as the operational cost is going on increasing.” Expressing his concerns to revive Bombay Flying Club, alumni of the club, Capt Arun Godbole, Principal of Institute of Aviation and Aviation Safety, an education wing of the Federation of Indian Pilots, said it will be very difficult for Bombay flying club to operate from the current Juhu aerodrome in Mumbai, because of the increased air traffic. If possible they can take the plane 50 to 60 km away from Mumbai and can teach flying there.
On the CFI, he said that there must be some formula worked out among the flying clubs and airlines, giving some incentives to the current pilots working for the airlines to come forward and do some voluntary work for the flying clubs.
Till now, aspiring pilots, who have done ground training in India have no other option, but to go to foreign countries to complete their flying. The shortage of CFIs has been very troublesome, as students had to wait for a long time to finish accumulating their flying hours and hence majority turn abroad. But the move to start flying activities in Mumbai and Baroda will be a relief, said a source.
13/04/07 Nehul Jagdish Kumar/Merinews
Thursday, April 12, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
CAE signs new pilot training contracts with IndiGo and Ryanair
Montreal: CAE has signed agreements with Interglobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) and Europe's Ryanair to train a total of 1,490 pilots over the next four years for potential hire by the
airlines. At list prices, these contracts represent approximately $30 million
in training services.
CAE will provide 290 first officer and captain candidates for Indigo's A320 fleet.
Under the terms of the contract, CAE will source, recruit and train
candidates who meet IndiGo's requirements. CAE will undertake a global search
for recruits, using its considerable international database and leveraging the
CAE Global Academy. Qualified candidates will then train at their nearest CAE
training centres. In 2006 alone, CAE recruited, trained and supplied
approximately 500 pilots for commercial airlines around the world.
Under the terms of the Ryanair contract, CAE will source, recruit and
train 1,200 suitable candidates. Students, ranging from newly trained cadets
up to seasoned captains, will be type-rated by CAE in preparation for line
training on Boeing 737-800 procedures, as observed by Ryanair.
With annual revenues of over C$1 billion, CAE operates in 19 countries
around the world. CAE has sold nearly 700 simulators and training devices to
airlines, aircraft manufacturers, training centres and defence forces for air
and ground purposes in more than 40 countries.
11/04/07 CNW Telbec (Communiqués de presse), Canada
To read the news in full |
PermaLink airlines. At list prices, these contracts represent approximately $30 million
in training services.
CAE will provide 290 first officer and captain candidates for Indigo's A320 fleet.
Under the terms of the contract, CAE will source, recruit and train
candidates who meet IndiGo's requirements. CAE will undertake a global search
for recruits, using its considerable international database and leveraging the
CAE Global Academy. Qualified candidates will then train at their nearest CAE
training centres. In 2006 alone, CAE recruited, trained and supplied
approximately 500 pilots for commercial airlines around the world.
Under the terms of the Ryanair contract, CAE will source, recruit and
train 1,200 suitable candidates. Students, ranging from newly trained cadets
up to seasoned captains, will be type-rated by CAE in preparation for line
training on Boeing 737-800 procedures, as observed by Ryanair.
With annual revenues of over C$1 billion, CAE operates in 19 countries
around the world. CAE has sold nearly 700 simulators and training devices to
airlines, aircraft manufacturers, training centres and defence forces for air
and ground purposes in more than 40 countries.
11/04/07 CNW Telbec (Communiqués de presse), Canada
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Aviation courses take flight as tech, medical ones get grounded
Ahmedabad: Medical and management courses may soon be passe, for the sky’s the limit, literally, for today’s youths, say event managers for education fairs.
According to them, a career in aviation industry, like pilot training programme, is a fast emerging academic pursuit among students these days, giving oft-preferred medical and management courses, a tough time.
And, the trend is picking up fast, courtesy ever-increasing number of airlines and flights on domestic and international circuits, they say.
Aviation captured five to seven per cent of the total education market even as management courses were yet to lose their charm, pulling nearly 60 per cent of students, says Siddharth Jain, chief executive officer-marketing operations, Global Events and Expositions Pvt Ltd. Jain was in town on Tuesday in connection with launch of a two-day education fair. Also, medical and management courses are being given a miss because of their high costs despite higher returns in the longer run, he said.
The two-day education fair organised by Global Events will begin on Wednesday at Rajpath Club. The fair will have seven foreign institutions and around 40 domestic institutions will participate to guide students about their courses. Also, SBI, Union Bank of India and and Bank of India will have their counters to provide information on funding of the studies.
He said that in the next follow-up programme, similar fairs are proposed to be held at Vadodara and Anand around November to explore newer markets.
Followed by Ahmedabad, similar fairs will be held in 13 other cities of the country by mid-June, he added. Besides four metros, other cities include Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jammu, Ludhiana, Ranchi, Shimla and Patna.
10/04/07 Ahmedabad Newsline
To read the news in full |
PermaLink According to them, a career in aviation industry, like pilot training programme, is a fast emerging academic pursuit among students these days, giving oft-preferred medical and management courses, a tough time.
And, the trend is picking up fast, courtesy ever-increasing number of airlines and flights on domestic and international circuits, they say.
Aviation captured five to seven per cent of the total education market even as management courses were yet to lose their charm, pulling nearly 60 per cent of students, says Siddharth Jain, chief executive officer-marketing operations, Global Events and Expositions Pvt Ltd. Jain was in town on Tuesday in connection with launch of a two-day education fair. Also, medical and management courses are being given a miss because of their high costs despite higher returns in the longer run, he said.
The two-day education fair organised by Global Events will begin on Wednesday at Rajpath Club. The fair will have seven foreign institutions and around 40 domestic institutions will participate to guide students about their courses. Also, SBI, Union Bank of India and and Bank of India will have their counters to provide information on funding of the studies.
He said that in the next follow-up programme, similar fairs are proposed to be held at Vadodara and Anand around November to explore newer markets.
Followed by Ahmedabad, similar fairs will be held in 13 other cities of the country by mid-June, he added. Besides four metros, other cities include Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jammu, Ludhiana, Ranchi, Shimla and Patna.
10/04/07 Ahmedabad Newsline
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
IAF to offer pilots for short-staffed Air-India, Indian Airlines
New Delhi: Seeking greater synergy with civil aviation, the new Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Fali Homi Major has announced that the IAF will release 15 to 20 pilots at regular intervals to serve with national carrier Air-India on deputation.
Currently, Air-India faces a shortfall of 118 pilots, even as the government has plans to merge Air India and Indian Airlines into a single entity.
During the deputation, IAF pilots will be paid salaries in tune with their counterparts in civil aviation. The move is aimed at stemming the large-scale exodus from the force, even while providing exposure to IAF pilots on civil aircraft. “It will be a second career for our pilots and the scheme will commence soon,” Major said. Though the IAF will release fighter, transport and helicopter pilots for Air-India, they will be barred from serving with private airlines. For a while now, the IAF has been resisting efforts by its pilots to leave the force for greener pastures.
Of the estimated 200-300 pilots who sought release, only a handful was allowed to leave.
"Release of pilots will depend on the number available. It can go as high as 30-40 in a year or nothing, and the release of pilots could be made quarterly, half-yearly and yearly depending on the availability,"Major said.
10/04/07 Financial Express
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Currently, Air-India faces a shortfall of 118 pilots, even as the government has plans to merge Air India and Indian Airlines into a single entity.
During the deputation, IAF pilots will be paid salaries in tune with their counterparts in civil aviation. The move is aimed at stemming the large-scale exodus from the force, even while providing exposure to IAF pilots on civil aircraft. “It will be a second career for our pilots and the scheme will commence soon,” Major said. Though the IAF will release fighter, transport and helicopter pilots for Air-India, they will be barred from serving with private airlines. For a while now, the IAF has been resisting efforts by its pilots to leave the force for greener pastures.
Of the estimated 200-300 pilots who sought release, only a handful was allowed to leave.
"Release of pilots will depend on the number available. It can go as high as 30-40 in a year or nothing, and the release of pilots could be made quarterly, half-yearly and yearly depending on the availability,"Major said.
10/04/07 Financial Express
Keeping them safe
Mumbai: A few weeks ago, a software engineer friend was griping about his company's exit interview. With a better paying and better prospects career offer in hand, he had put in his papers. He wasn't alone - about 10 other people resigned the same week.
The worried CEO rushed to Mumbai to meet the resigning executives. He spoke at length about the company, its values and how these are invaluable. The employees who had expected a discussion on better compensation packages and growth opportunities were disappointed and the resignations remained.
Yes, money isn't everything. But it remains a darned good motivator, especially as an immediate deterrent to departure. Most HR consultants agree that when companies know rivals are approaching, a quick, mid-term appraisal with announcements of better salaries is a good, short-term strategy.
Air-India resorted to pay hikes after losing people across all functions- pilots, ground and ticketing staff- to the new crop of airlines in the country. Last year, the national carrier improved compensation packages for employees at all levels.
It claims to have seen a huge improvement since then where earlier it lost employees in batches of five and 10 every year, there have been no such resignations since the policy change last year. Agrees V A Ferreira, director, HRD and IFS, Air-India,"Changing our compensation package helped us retain talent."
To effectively stave off the threat from poachers, what is required are longer-term strategies and policies that are in place long before rivals arrive.
Air-India, too, is attempting something similar with its pilots. It now recruits fresh engineering graduates and facilitates their entry into flight training schools. They are provided financial assistance in exchange for a seven-year contract with the company.
Existing employees with engineering degrees including flight pursers and cabin crew are also being encouraged to learn flying, with shorter, five-year contracts. Since its initiation last year, more than 2,000 people have already signed contracts with the airline. Says Ferreira, "We have seen that in high skill categories, it is much better to pick up young talent and train them."
Ferreira, doesn't share figures but claims attrition rates have been arrested.
10/04/07 Govindkrishna Seshan/Business Standard
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The worried CEO rushed to Mumbai to meet the resigning executives. He spoke at length about the company, its values and how these are invaluable. The employees who had expected a discussion on better compensation packages and growth opportunities were disappointed and the resignations remained.
Yes, money isn't everything. But it remains a darned good motivator, especially as an immediate deterrent to departure. Most HR consultants agree that when companies know rivals are approaching, a quick, mid-term appraisal with announcements of better salaries is a good, short-term strategy.
Air-India resorted to pay hikes after losing people across all functions- pilots, ground and ticketing staff- to the new crop of airlines in the country. Last year, the national carrier improved compensation packages for employees at all levels.
It claims to have seen a huge improvement since then where earlier it lost employees in batches of five and 10 every year, there have been no such resignations since the policy change last year. Agrees V A Ferreira, director, HRD and IFS, Air-India,"Changing our compensation package helped us retain talent."
To effectively stave off the threat from poachers, what is required are longer-term strategies and policies that are in place long before rivals arrive.
Air-India, too, is attempting something similar with its pilots. It now recruits fresh engineering graduates and facilitates their entry into flight training schools. They are provided financial assistance in exchange for a seven-year contract with the company.
Existing employees with engineering degrees including flight pursers and cabin crew are also being encouraged to learn flying, with shorter, five-year contracts. Since its initiation last year, more than 2,000 people have already signed contracts with the airline. Says Ferreira, "We have seen that in high skill categories, it is much better to pick up young talent and train them."
Ferreira, doesn't share figures but claims attrition rates have been arrested.
10/04/07 Govindkrishna Seshan/Business Standard
Monday, April 09, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Indian Airline Pilots Get Their Wings In US
As India witnesses an aviation boom, several rapidly growing airlines are sending young students halfway across the world to Sabena Airline Training Centre (SATC) in the US to become professional pilots.
A batch of 26 Indian students, including three women, sponsored by SpiceJet and Kingfisher, are already training at a brand new SATC facility spread over 24,000 sq feet at Falcon Field, 30 km east of Phoenix. Their number may grow to 140 by year end.
From this facility, giving access to the many uncontrolled airports in the southern part of Arizona - ideal for basic training, SATC plans to fly 48,000 flight hours with 310 international students training in 2007, said managing director Kris Van den Bergh at its formal opening.
For the Indian programme, the airlines concerned pick up 19 to 29-year-old science/engineering graduates or those with physics and mathematics background who can communicate well in English.
The 32-week programme in Arizona involves 100 hours of theory and 225 hours of flying. Once they obtain their pilot's license for general aviation aircraft, the students are qualified to go on for training in specific Boeing or Airbus aircraft in Brussels or in their own airlines' training programmes, said business development director Laurence Adam.
Students pay a course fee of $38,000 and another $7,000 towards shared accommodation. However, Kingfisher-sponsored candidates get a refund of $10,000 and an assured job on completion of training, she said.
To meet this demand, SATC plans to expand its fleet of 27 aircraft to 34 aircraft making 170 flights, logging over 250 flight hours and 500 landings every day or a landing every three minutes!
For the expansion, SATC has chosen a new family of airplanes, the Diamond, going from the smaller two-seater DA20, over the four-seater DA40 and the twin, the DA42.
09/04/07 IANS/Playfuls.com, Romania
To read the news in full |
PermaLink A batch of 26 Indian students, including three women, sponsored by SpiceJet and Kingfisher, are already training at a brand new SATC facility spread over 24,000 sq feet at Falcon Field, 30 km east of Phoenix. Their number may grow to 140 by year end.
From this facility, giving access to the many uncontrolled airports in the southern part of Arizona - ideal for basic training, SATC plans to fly 48,000 flight hours with 310 international students training in 2007, said managing director Kris Van den Bergh at its formal opening.
For the Indian programme, the airlines concerned pick up 19 to 29-year-old science/engineering graduates or those with physics and mathematics background who can communicate well in English.
The 32-week programme in Arizona involves 100 hours of theory and 225 hours of flying. Once they obtain their pilot's license for general aviation aircraft, the students are qualified to go on for training in specific Boeing or Airbus aircraft in Brussels or in their own airlines' training programmes, said business development director Laurence Adam.
Students pay a course fee of $38,000 and another $7,000 towards shared accommodation. However, Kingfisher-sponsored candidates get a refund of $10,000 and an assured job on completion of training, she said.
To meet this demand, SATC plans to expand its fleet of 27 aircraft to 34 aircraft making 170 flights, logging over 250 flight hours and 500 landings every day or a landing every three minutes!
For the expansion, SATC has chosen a new family of airplanes, the Diamond, going from the smaller two-seater DA20, over the four-seater DA40 and the twin, the DA42.
09/04/07 IANS/Playfuls.com, Romania
Sunday, April 08, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Flying Cats opens air hostess academy in Amritsar
Amritsar: With Amritsar becoming the hub of the aviation industry, Flying Cats, a complete air hostess training school has opened up its branch in the city to gear youngsters for the stylish aviation and hospitality industry.
Priyanka Khosla, MD of Flying Cats, said that all top quality brands, stars and leading aviation and hospitality experts are associated with Flying Cats.
"We are also providing the first batch with an opportunity of being trained by professionals of the Singapore Tourism Board," Khosla said.
Flying Cats is offering a university diploma in cabin crew training and ground handling in collaboration with Annamalai University, besides getting in-flight training and swimming sessions without any additional cost.
In addition to acquiring a degree from a prestigious university, diploma students will receive certificates from Flying Cats, Polished Cats, English Cats, Galileo CRS System, the Global School of Beauty and the Red Cross.
All Flying Cats Centres will provide education through virtual class rooms via V-Sat. This is being provided through Hughes Escorts Communication Limited.Experts from Air India, Swiss Air, Cathy Pacific, Jet Airways, Hotel Taj and Hotel Oberoi are on their celebrity panel.
07/04/07 Ravinder Singh Robin/ANI/DailyIndia.com, US
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Priyanka Khosla, MD of Flying Cats, said that all top quality brands, stars and leading aviation and hospitality experts are associated with Flying Cats.
"We are also providing the first batch with an opportunity of being trained by professionals of the Singapore Tourism Board," Khosla said.
Flying Cats is offering a university diploma in cabin crew training and ground handling in collaboration with Annamalai University, besides getting in-flight training and swimming sessions without any additional cost.
In addition to acquiring a degree from a prestigious university, diploma students will receive certificates from Flying Cats, Polished Cats, English Cats, Galileo CRS System, the Global School of Beauty and the Red Cross.
All Flying Cats Centres will provide education through virtual class rooms via V-Sat. This is being provided through Hughes Escorts Communication Limited.Experts from Air India, Swiss Air, Cathy Pacific, Jet Airways, Hotel Taj and Hotel Oberoi are on their celebrity panel.
07/04/07 Ravinder Singh Robin/ANI/DailyIndia.com, US
Friday, April 06, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Airlines target training institutes to fill requirement
Mumbai: College campuses are turning into aircraft parking lots. Airliners are flying to cabin crew training institutes to handpick talent urgently needed to fort the skies. On April 4, Air Deccan, the Banglore-based low fare air service provider signed exclusive cabin crew recruitment partnership with Frankfinn Institute of Airhostess Training.
At the current pace of growth, with the collective industry fleet strength expected to reach 900 from 350 by 2009, the Indian aviation industry would require 7500-8000 cabin crew per year. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also confirms that by 2010 the travel within Asia will become the largest with 678 million passengers compared to 552 million in the US domestic market.
Kingfisher airways is also seeking landing space in colleges campuses, job fairs, hotel and most importantly call centres to garner fuel for the service industry.
The airline will also open a training institute to nurture talent for all sector of the aviation industry on April 5.
Spicejet has been visiting smaller towns like Raipur, Bhilai, Darjeeling etc. to tap fresh talent.
05/04/07 Soubhik Mitra/Hindustan Times
To read the news in full |
PermaLink At the current pace of growth, with the collective industry fleet strength expected to reach 900 from 350 by 2009, the Indian aviation industry would require 7500-8000 cabin crew per year. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also confirms that by 2010 the travel within Asia will become the largest with 678 million passengers compared to 552 million in the US domestic market.
Kingfisher airways is also seeking landing space in colleges campuses, job fairs, hotel and most importantly call centres to garner fuel for the service industry.
The airline will also open a training institute to nurture talent for all sector of the aviation industry on April 5.
Spicejet has been visiting smaller towns like Raipur, Bhilai, Darjeeling etc. to tap fresh talent.
05/04/07 Soubhik Mitra/Hindustan Times
Flying cradle on airlines’ radar
Jamshedpur: If authorities at the city’s lone flying club, Toubro Aviation, are to be believed, leading names like Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines would soon drop in to recruit a fresh batch of pilots.
“At least three major groups have shown a keen interest in coming to Jamshedpur to pick up pilots,” said Deepak Jha, manager of operations, Toubro Aviation Private Limited.
Started about a year and a half ago, the flying club provides a 18-month course for a commercial pilot licence.
While Jet and Kingfisher have already shown interest, Paramount Airways, which operates mainly in Northern India, is waiting in the wings. The institute is also trying to get in touch with Air Deccan which is scheduled to begin operations here soon.
With such plum offers for its very first batch of students, the institute has decided to begin a full-fledged placement wing from the coming academic year “to streamline operations. The placement cell would have both faculty and student members,” said Jha.
Candidates wanting to pursue a course in this institute have to first appear for a pilot licence examination conducted by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
05/04/07 The Telegraph
To read the news in full |
PermaLink “At least three major groups have shown a keen interest in coming to Jamshedpur to pick up pilots,” said Deepak Jha, manager of operations, Toubro Aviation Private Limited.
Started about a year and a half ago, the flying club provides a 18-month course for a commercial pilot licence.
While Jet and Kingfisher have already shown interest, Paramount Airways, which operates mainly in Northern India, is waiting in the wings. The institute is also trying to get in touch with Air Deccan which is scheduled to begin operations here soon.
With such plum offers for its very first batch of students, the institute has decided to begin a full-fledged placement wing from the coming academic year “to streamline operations. The placement cell would have both faculty and student members,” said Jha.
Candidates wanting to pursue a course in this institute have to first appear for a pilot licence examination conducted by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
05/04/07 The Telegraph
Kingfisher Training Academy Launched
Mumbai: Kingfisher Training Academy (KTA) is all set to launch educational courses to prepare India’s youth for new-age, fast growing careers in Retail, Hospitality, Aviation and Customer Services Management sectors.
The academy boasts of state-of-the-art training infrastructure, course modules based on the evolving industry demands and a faculty of trained and qualified professionals that aim to create a world class training environment that imparts customized & quality training to young aspirants in aviation, retail, hospitality and Customer Services Management industries.
For industries that have a continuous demand for trained service professionals, the KTA is a gateway for aspiring youth to equip themselves with specific skill sets required for the services industry. A significant part of the training is focused on the nuances of appropriate behavior, norms & prevailing corporate culture.
The campus is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that offer students a live cabin services simulator – an Airbus A 320 mock up, classrooms equipped with audio-visual facilities, computer-based training rooms, food & beverage service laboratory and grooming suite.
The duration of the course is six months and the programmes are tailored for aspiring service industry entrants who have already completed a formal course in their desired industry and would like to hone their skills further to gain a competitive edge.
The KTA is backed by decades of insightful understanding of the evolving Indian consumer and markets by the UB Group and will also strongly leverage on the success of the multi-award winning Kingfisher Airlines that has redefined hospitality in the Indian market.
05/04/07 Business Wire India (press release)
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The academy boasts of state-of-the-art training infrastructure, course modules based on the evolving industry demands and a faculty of trained and qualified professionals that aim to create a world class training environment that imparts customized & quality training to young aspirants in aviation, retail, hospitality and Customer Services Management industries.
For industries that have a continuous demand for trained service professionals, the KTA is a gateway for aspiring youth to equip themselves with specific skill sets required for the services industry. A significant part of the training is focused on the nuances of appropriate behavior, norms & prevailing corporate culture.
The campus is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that offer students a live cabin services simulator – an Airbus A 320 mock up, classrooms equipped with audio-visual facilities, computer-based training rooms, food & beverage service laboratory and grooming suite.
The duration of the course is six months and the programmes are tailored for aspiring service industry entrants who have already completed a formal course in their desired industry and would like to hone their skills further to gain a competitive edge.
The KTA is backed by decades of insightful understanding of the evolving Indian consumer and markets by the UB Group and will also strongly leverage on the success of the multi-award winning Kingfisher Airlines that has redefined hospitality in the Indian market.
05/04/07 Business Wire India (press release)
Thursday, April 05, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Air Deccan ties-up with Frankfinn
Mumbai: Air Deccan today tied up with Frankfinn Institute of Airhostesses Training as an exclusive cabin crew partner.
“As per the contract, which is for an initial period of two years, only Frankfinn students will be recruited as cabin crew by the airlines with up to 400 placements guaranteed each year during the contract,” Frankfinn Chairman K S Kohli said.
“It will save us the recruitment costs and also help us earn revenue for the in-flight training we will provide to the students under the agreement,” Air Deccan Managing Director Captain G R Gopinath said here. On being asked about the financial aspects involved in the agreement, Frankfinn CEO said, “We have shelled a lot of money for the in-flight training to be provided by Air Deccan.”
The airlines also plans to outsource pilots in the near future.
05/04/07 PTI/Economic Times
To read the news in full |
PermaLink “As per the contract, which is for an initial period of two years, only Frankfinn students will be recruited as cabin crew by the airlines with up to 400 placements guaranteed each year during the contract,” Frankfinn Chairman K S Kohli said.
“It will save us the recruitment costs and also help us earn revenue for the in-flight training we will provide to the students under the agreement,” Air Deccan Managing Director Captain G R Gopinath said here. On being asked about the financial aspects involved in the agreement, Frankfinn CEO said, “We have shelled a lot of money for the in-flight training to be provided by Air Deccan.”
The airlines also plans to outsource pilots in the near future.
05/04/07 PTI/Economic Times
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