Friday, November 30, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Shortage of aircraft maintenance engineers worldwide
Cyberjaya: There is a need to overcome the worldwide shortage of aircraft maintenance engineers (AME).
Department of Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said the number of aircrafts has quadrupled in the past 20 years.
“In order to maintain these modern aircrafts, there is a need for people with special skills and attributes,” he said at the launch of Nilai International University College’s (NUC) diploma in aircraft maintenance engineering yesterday.
“There is a genuine shortage because of several factors that affected the aviation industry such as changing economies, the Sept 11 tragedy and SARS that resulted in no training being carried out for several years,” he said.
Farrow added that China alone needed 210,000 AMEs in the next five years.
NUC president Professor Emeritus Tengku Datuk Shamsul Bahrin said the aviation industry was rapidly expanding and as a result, the demand for AMEs will continue to grow.
He added that NUC was looking at the international market with the intention of attracting international students in line with making Malaysia an education hub.
Azharuddin, a former AME himself, said that AME was a very marketable profession as there was a worldwide demand for them.
The diploma will incorporate the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 66 Category B1-1 syllabus, which will earn them an EASA Part 66 Category B1-1 aircraft maintenance licence that will allow graduates to seek immediate employment internationally.
This is the worldwide standard that is adopted by many countries around the world.
30/11/07 Ee-Lyn Tan/Malaysia Star, Malaysia
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Department of Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said the number of aircrafts has quadrupled in the past 20 years.
“In order to maintain these modern aircrafts, there is a need for people with special skills and attributes,” he said at the launch of Nilai International University College’s (NUC) diploma in aircraft maintenance engineering yesterday.
“There is a genuine shortage because of several factors that affected the aviation industry such as changing economies, the Sept 11 tragedy and SARS that resulted in no training being carried out for several years,” he said.
Farrow added that China alone needed 210,000 AMEs in the next five years.
NUC president Professor Emeritus Tengku Datuk Shamsul Bahrin said the aviation industry was rapidly expanding and as a result, the demand for AMEs will continue to grow.
He added that NUC was looking at the international market with the intention of attracting international students in line with making Malaysia an education hub.
Azharuddin, a former AME himself, said that AME was a very marketable profession as there was a worldwide demand for them.
The diploma will incorporate the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 66 Category B1-1 syllabus, which will earn them an EASA Part 66 Category B1-1 aircraft maintenance licence that will allow graduates to seek immediate employment internationally.
This is the worldwide standard that is adopted by many countries around the world.
30/11/07 Ee-Lyn Tan/Malaysia Star, Malaysia
Thursday, November 29, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Air India too targeting South Africa's pilots
South Africa's best pilots are being lured by promises of lucrative packages and better prospects from big international airlines.
With the global airline market booming, some of the bigger airlines such as Air India, Emirates, Qatar and Etihad are said to be among the bigger carriers targeting South Africa's top pilots, who are reported to be among the best trained in the world.
With many pilots expected to resign from South African Airways, which was on a drive to reduce its pod of pilots by 225 through voluntary retrenchments packages, the airline now appears to have had a rethink of its strategy.
Cathy Bill, the manager of the South African Airways Pilots' Association confirmed that a notice sent out by SAA offering voluntary retrenchment packages to staff members was withdrawn last week.
The airline wanted to reduce its staff complement by 2 232 employees, of whom 225 were pilots.
After a consultative process with the unions, it appeared that a R638-million shortfall in the targeted R1,7-billion profit margin had been met, and it was now unlikely there would be forced retrenchments, Bill said.
She added it appeared that the climate at SAA had changed with the expected resignation of pilots following a massive recruitment drive by bigger international airlines.
Bhabhalazi Bulunga, the general manager of human resources at SAA said SAA recently offered voluntary severance packages to all its staff members, excluding management and international employees, after the successful conclusion of consultations with recognised trade unions.
It has been claimed that 120 pilots were leaving SAA as a result of retrenchments, but Bulunga said the figure was incorrect.
Bulunga said it was also worth noting that SAA's pilots were among the most highly trained and best performing in the world, and "we are confident we will be able to retain pilots at the airline".
Linden Birns, the managing director of Plane Talking, said India and the Middle East were among the regions with a big global recruitment drive for pilots.
"The deregulation of Air India from a government monopoly a few years ago has also increased the demand for pilots in that country's booming privatised airline market," Birns said.
He added that low-cost airlines had also made big inroads in the global market, including South Africa.
Gidon Novick, the joint chief executive of Comair, which looks after kulula.com, said that in the next 10 years 17 000 extra pilots were expected to be recruited worldwide on the back of low-cost airlines, which were showing significant growth.
28/11/07 Anna Louw/Independent Online, South Africa
To read the news in full |
PermaLink With the global airline market booming, some of the bigger airlines such as Air India, Emirates, Qatar and Etihad are said to be among the bigger carriers targeting South Africa's top pilots, who are reported to be among the best trained in the world.
With many pilots expected to resign from South African Airways, which was on a drive to reduce its pod of pilots by 225 through voluntary retrenchments packages, the airline now appears to have had a rethink of its strategy.
Cathy Bill, the manager of the South African Airways Pilots' Association confirmed that a notice sent out by SAA offering voluntary retrenchment packages to staff members was withdrawn last week.
The airline wanted to reduce its staff complement by 2 232 employees, of whom 225 were pilots.
After a consultative process with the unions, it appeared that a R638-million shortfall in the targeted R1,7-billion profit margin had been met, and it was now unlikely there would be forced retrenchments, Bill said.
She added it appeared that the climate at SAA had changed with the expected resignation of pilots following a massive recruitment drive by bigger international airlines.
Bhabhalazi Bulunga, the general manager of human resources at SAA said SAA recently offered voluntary severance packages to all its staff members, excluding management and international employees, after the successful conclusion of consultations with recognised trade unions.
It has been claimed that 120 pilots were leaving SAA as a result of retrenchments, but Bulunga said the figure was incorrect.
Bulunga said it was also worth noting that SAA's pilots were among the most highly trained and best performing in the world, and "we are confident we will be able to retain pilots at the airline".
Linden Birns, the managing director of Plane Talking, said India and the Middle East were among the regions with a big global recruitment drive for pilots.
"The deregulation of Air India from a government monopoly a few years ago has also increased the demand for pilots in that country's booming privatised airline market," Birns said.
He added that low-cost airlines had also made big inroads in the global market, including South Africa.
Gidon Novick, the joint chief executive of Comair, which looks after kulula.com, said that in the next 10 years 17 000 extra pilots were expected to be recruited worldwide on the back of low-cost airlines, which were showing significant growth.
28/11/07 Anna Louw/Independent Online, South Africa
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Converting foreign pilot licences to Indian made easy
New Delhi: With pilot shortage in India getting acute and airlines unable to fully utilise the planes they have or deferring acquisition, the government has simplified the process of converting professional pilot’s licence issued abroad to an Indian one.
As soon as a foreign licence holder clears the requisite tests prescribed by the DGCA, he will submit all papers and conversion fees with the directorate.
"The applicant will have to be called for interview in three days of submission of all papers. We have basically gone like the US visa system. If the applicant clears the interview, he or she would be told that his case has been cleared. The Indian CPL will reach him within a week by courier," said a senior official.
If a person's licence has not been cleared for conversion, he would be informed at the interview time itself. The applicant would be given a letter stating why he or she wasn’t found satisfactory and how a reapplication can be made.
28/11/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
To read the news in full |
PermaLink As soon as a foreign licence holder clears the requisite tests prescribed by the DGCA, he will submit all papers and conversion fees with the directorate.
"The applicant will have to be called for interview in three days of submission of all papers. We have basically gone like the US visa system. If the applicant clears the interview, he or she would be told that his case has been cleared. The Indian CPL will reach him within a week by courier," said a senior official.
If a person's licence has not been cleared for conversion, he would be informed at the interview time itself. The applicant would be given a letter stating why he or she wasn’t found satisfactory and how a reapplication can be made.
28/11/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
Soon, more senior citizen pilots in Indian skies
New Delhi: The skies are expected to get greyer. We’re not talking about weather conditions, but the increase in the number of pilots above the age of 60 in Indian skies.
In a bid to ease the acute shortage of pilots, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has streamlined the process for foreign pilots to get licences to operate in the country.
This means that pilots in the US who are barred from flying commercial aircraft after the age of 60 could be at the controls in India where the age limit is 65 years.
The government is desperate to attract more foreign pilots to make up for the huge deficit airlines are facing. Senior ministry officials said that information on all relevant documents required to be furnished by foreign pilots is now available on the web and they can get a licence to fly Indian carriers in a matter of days against the long wait earlier.According to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, the preset requirement of type-rated pilots for scheduled, non-scheduled and private operators is 4,754 but only 3,950 Indian type-rated pilots are available.“The shortfall is being met with foreign pilots. Currently, 804 foreign pilots are employed with various airlines,” he said in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
The largest number of foreign pilots — 263 — is employed by Jet Airways, 148 by Air Deccan, 96 by Kingfisher, 74 by IndiGo and 45 by SpiceJet.
28/11/07 Sindhu Bhattacharya/Daily News & Analysis
To read the news in full |
PermaLink In a bid to ease the acute shortage of pilots, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has streamlined the process for foreign pilots to get licences to operate in the country.
This means that pilots in the US who are barred from flying commercial aircraft after the age of 60 could be at the controls in India where the age limit is 65 years.
The government is desperate to attract more foreign pilots to make up for the huge deficit airlines are facing. Senior ministry officials said that information on all relevant documents required to be furnished by foreign pilots is now available on the web and they can get a licence to fly Indian carriers in a matter of days against the long wait earlier.According to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, the preset requirement of type-rated pilots for scheduled, non-scheduled and private operators is 4,754 but only 3,950 Indian type-rated pilots are available.“The shortfall is being met with foreign pilots. Currently, 804 foreign pilots are employed with various airlines,” he said in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
The largest number of foreign pilots — 263 — is employed by Jet Airways, 148 by Air Deccan, 96 by Kingfisher, 74 by IndiGo and 45 by SpiceJet.
28/11/07 Sindhu Bhattacharya/Daily News & Analysis
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Air Force-AI pilot pact crashes
New Delhi: An eight-month-old ambitious plan to end the shortage of pilots in Air India with the help of the Indian Air Force has failed to take off. Only nine IAF pilots have joined the national carrier so far, and there are no indications of more joining in the near future.
According to the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Air India is short of 200 pilots. Presently it has 777 pilots, including 117 expatriates.
In a memorandum of understanding signed between the IAF and Air India in April this year, the former was to provide 15 to 20 pilots, aged 54 years and above, to the national carrier.
However, Air India says that only nine out of the 30 selected IAF pilots have joined so far. “In the first batch, 14 officers appeared and all were selected. Of them only seven have joined. In the second batch, 16 officers were selected; only two have joined,” said AI corporate communications head Jitender Bhargava.
“Civil aviation flying testing procedure is over-hyped and impractical, whereas the IAF procedure is more practical, result-oriented and operates within flight safety envelopes,” a senior IAF official told HT, explaining the reluctance of fighter pilots to join the private carrier.
The IAF’s insistence on sending pilots aged 54 years and above has complicated matters with Air India, which was not keen to have pilots approaching retirement age, sources said.
The IAF, however, has maintained that pilots who are 54 have a lot of flying left in them.
27/11/07 Nagendar Sharma/Hindustan Times
To read the news in full |
PermaLink According to the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Air India is short of 200 pilots. Presently it has 777 pilots, including 117 expatriates.
In a memorandum of understanding signed between the IAF and Air India in April this year, the former was to provide 15 to 20 pilots, aged 54 years and above, to the national carrier.
However, Air India says that only nine out of the 30 selected IAF pilots have joined so far. “In the first batch, 14 officers appeared and all were selected. Of them only seven have joined. In the second batch, 16 officers were selected; only two have joined,” said AI corporate communications head Jitender Bhargava.
“Civil aviation flying testing procedure is over-hyped and impractical, whereas the IAF procedure is more practical, result-oriented and operates within flight safety envelopes,” a senior IAF official told HT, explaining the reluctance of fighter pilots to join the private carrier.
The IAF’s insistence on sending pilots aged 54 years and above has complicated matters with Air India, which was not keen to have pilots approaching retirement age, sources said.
The IAF, however, has maintained that pilots who are 54 have a lot of flying left in them.
27/11/07 Nagendar Sharma/Hindustan Times
Shortage of pilots, ground staff plague national airline
New Delhi: Even as Air India and Indian have, in the past few days, been victims of fog, bird-hits and technical snags, a shortage of pilots and ground staff have worsened the situation for the newly merged airlines.
According to Aviation Industry Employees Guild, Air India is also reeling under a severe staff shortage. "When we had 19 aircraft, our ground staff was 12,000. Now that we have 46 aircraft, four of them leased, we have 9,100 ground staff," said V J Deka, chairman of the guild.
In Delhi, he said, they have a total of 1,600 people, of which 320 are commercial staff. "In one shift, we have about 45 people working. Out of this, 8 have been moved from each shift for Haj duties. We had more people working when there was less than half the number of aircraft. Obviously that will affect the quality of work," said Deka.
Air India is also handling ground duties for 10 other airlines in Delhi and about 20 in Mumbai. "No recruitment has been done for the past few years and the staff shortage is mostly due to retirements in the past many years.
However, we have been outsourcing work to companies, paying them lesser and taking as much work out of them. Why would they have any loyalty towards the company," he added.
27/11/07 Times of India
To read the news in full |
PermaLink According to Aviation Industry Employees Guild, Air India is also reeling under a severe staff shortage. "When we had 19 aircraft, our ground staff was 12,000. Now that we have 46 aircraft, four of them leased, we have 9,100 ground staff," said V J Deka, chairman of the guild.
In Delhi, he said, they have a total of 1,600 people, of which 320 are commercial staff. "In one shift, we have about 45 people working. Out of this, 8 have been moved from each shift for Haj duties. We had more people working when there was less than half the number of aircraft. Obviously that will affect the quality of work," said Deka.
Air India is also handling ground duties for 10 other airlines in Delhi and about 20 in Mumbai. "No recruitment has been done for the past few years and the staff shortage is mostly due to retirements in the past many years.
However, we have been outsourcing work to companies, paying them lesser and taking as much work out of them. Why would they have any loyalty towards the company," he added.
27/11/07 Times of India
Monday, November 26, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
CAE expected to cash in on new international pilot training licences
Montreal: A new international rule that allows commercial airline co-pilots to gain licences with minimal actual flying experience could be money in the bank for simulator manufacturers and pilot training firms like Canada's CAE Inc.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has amended its decades-old rules by adopting multi-crew pilot licences (MPL), which permit training primarily in simulators.
At the industry's urging, the international aviation body agreed that flying solo in smaller aircraft wasn't the most efficient and safest way to train pilots for co-pilot duties in large jets.
The new competency-based training will instead require cadets to perform specific tasks in simulators.
The potential training market for MPL alone is estimated to be worth about US$400 million, once training centres are fully up and running to train 4,000 to 5,000 cadets per year.
As a global leader in the manufacture of simulators and pilot training, Montreal-based CAE expects to cash in on a large part of that action.
Early next year, CAE will begin beta testing its MPL training program with a few students before rolling it out in 12 to 18 months, Jeff Roberts, CAE's Innovation and Civil Training & Services president, said in an interview.
The first training will be conducted at a Global Academy location in the United States before possibly adding other sites in more remote locations.
By the time it ramps up in a few years, CAE expects to have up to 3,000 cadets per year, including those seeking MPL licences, to satisfy the growing need for pilots caused by retirements and steady production of new aircraft.
Industry estimates say 15,000 to 18,000 pilots will be required annually over the next 20 years. A large proportion will come from China, India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Cadets would be qualified to co-pilot Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s in 45 weeks at a cost of $75,000 to $80,000. This compares to the current training method that takes 18 to 26 months at a cost of $90,000 to $180,000.
Students would be required to have at least 240 hours of training, with a minimum of 40 coming from actual flying. Beta testing conducted so far suggests trainees receive an average of 330 hours of training, including 70 to 100 hours in a real cockpit. The old system required 150 to 200 hours of flying.
26/11/07 The Canadian Press
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has amended its decades-old rules by adopting multi-crew pilot licences (MPL), which permit training primarily in simulators.
At the industry's urging, the international aviation body agreed that flying solo in smaller aircraft wasn't the most efficient and safest way to train pilots for co-pilot duties in large jets.
The new competency-based training will instead require cadets to perform specific tasks in simulators.
The potential training market for MPL alone is estimated to be worth about US$400 million, once training centres are fully up and running to train 4,000 to 5,000 cadets per year.
As a global leader in the manufacture of simulators and pilot training, Montreal-based CAE expects to cash in on a large part of that action.
Early next year, CAE will begin beta testing its MPL training program with a few students before rolling it out in 12 to 18 months, Jeff Roberts, CAE's Innovation and Civil Training & Services president, said in an interview.
The first training will be conducted at a Global Academy location in the United States before possibly adding other sites in more remote locations.
By the time it ramps up in a few years, CAE expects to have up to 3,000 cadets per year, including those seeking MPL licences, to satisfy the growing need for pilots caused by retirements and steady production of new aircraft.
Industry estimates say 15,000 to 18,000 pilots will be required annually over the next 20 years. A large proportion will come from China, India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Cadets would be qualified to co-pilot Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s in 45 weeks at a cost of $75,000 to $80,000. This compares to the current training method that takes 18 to 26 months at a cost of $90,000 to $180,000.
Students would be required to have at least 240 hours of training, with a minimum of 40 coming from actual flying. Beta testing conducted so far suggests trainees receive an average of 330 hours of training, including 70 to 100 hours in a real cockpit. The old system required 150 to 200 hours of flying.
26/11/07 The Canadian Press
Sunday, November 25, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Tough exams aggravate pilot shortage
Mumbai: With the aviation boom underway, and an estimated shortage of 450 pilots, many feel the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) must facilitate an easier licensing process. The DGCA, however, insists that students must have maths and physics as subjects in Class 12; 200 hours of flying, including 25 hours of multi-engine flying; and strong theoretical knowledge of aircraft, aviation, and aerodynamics.
The DGCA says it is aware of the changing needs and is planning to phase out certain portions of the syllabus. “The profiles of commercial pilots are changing, and so is the business of aviation and the technology of aircraft: we are trying to update study material accordingly. But this won’t happen overnight. About the DGCA exams being the toughest to clear, well, that’s because we maintain quality.
...We do maintain very high standards where we expect pilots to have in-depth knowledge about aircraft, flying, and other aspects of aviation,” says Kanu Gohain, Director General of Civil Aviation.
Students feel that the DGCA theory exam is unnecessarily tough. “The DGCA course is more of an engineering course than a pilot training course. It is very technical, and in some cases redundant. I have had to learn about non-directional beacons, but this technology was last used in the 80s, and no aircraft in the world is equipped with it, but the DGCA insists that we must know everything about it. How pointless is that! Why not teach us about new technology and instruments that may enter India in the future?” asks Dhruv Malkani.
According to Shafique Khan, the DGCA still follows the 1954 Aircraft Act. “We need to throw it out, as most of the ideas in there are outdated. Technology has changed, ground realities have changed, and so has the mindset.”
But not all instructors are convinced that the DGCA must minimise the amount of theory in its courses. “We at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) follow the syllabus laid down by DGCA. And honestly, there isn’t any harm in doing so. Most students these days want to take the easy way out. But the truth is, as a pilot, one needs to have a sound theoretical knowledge as it is essential in times of emergency for effective analysis,” says Wing Commander (Rtd), Sudesh Kumar, chief ground instructor, IGRUA.
25/11/07 Sanghamitra Bhowmik/Daily News & Analysis
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The DGCA says it is aware of the changing needs and is planning to phase out certain portions of the syllabus. “The profiles of commercial pilots are changing, and so is the business of aviation and the technology of aircraft: we are trying to update study material accordingly. But this won’t happen overnight. About the DGCA exams being the toughest to clear, well, that’s because we maintain quality.
...We do maintain very high standards where we expect pilots to have in-depth knowledge about aircraft, flying, and other aspects of aviation,” says Kanu Gohain, Director General of Civil Aviation.
Students feel that the DGCA theory exam is unnecessarily tough. “The DGCA course is more of an engineering course than a pilot training course. It is very technical, and in some cases redundant. I have had to learn about non-directional beacons, but this technology was last used in the 80s, and no aircraft in the world is equipped with it, but the DGCA insists that we must know everything about it. How pointless is that! Why not teach us about new technology and instruments that may enter India in the future?” asks Dhruv Malkani.
According to Shafique Khan, the DGCA still follows the 1954 Aircraft Act. “We need to throw it out, as most of the ideas in there are outdated. Technology has changed, ground realities have changed, and so has the mindset.”
But not all instructors are convinced that the DGCA must minimise the amount of theory in its courses. “We at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) follow the syllabus laid down by DGCA. And honestly, there isn’t any harm in doing so. Most students these days want to take the easy way out. But the truth is, as a pilot, one needs to have a sound theoretical knowledge as it is essential in times of emergency for effective analysis,” says Wing Commander (Rtd), Sudesh Kumar, chief ground instructor, IGRUA.
25/11/07 Sanghamitra Bhowmik/Daily News & Analysis
Commercial pilots may get trained in a year’s time
New Delhi: The total time taken to train a person into a commercial pilot (CPL) is likely to come down to under a year from 18 months for those who don’t have the mandatory physics and mathematics in class 12.
The National Open School (NOS) under the HRD ministry has started online admissions for the two subjects through the year and serious students can qualify and meet the basic criteria in just a month. Earlier, these courses were made available once a year which used to delay the pilot training programme for students. Now the aspirants can take examinations immediately after the admission process.
The school has received 126 admission requests since it started the online programme on October 15, while 265 candidates took the physics and mathematics examinations in the past 10 years.
Besides airlines, aviation academies are also making greater use of the online course. They are asking their students to take the mandatory subjects via NOS to pursue their dream.
Airlines, which have been scouring the globe for pilots, feel the online exams will expedite pilot training and many more can join the workforce in shortest time.
25/11/07 Chanchal Pal Chauhan/Economic Times
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The National Open School (NOS) under the HRD ministry has started online admissions for the two subjects through the year and serious students can qualify and meet the basic criteria in just a month. Earlier, these courses were made available once a year which used to delay the pilot training programme for students. Now the aspirants can take examinations immediately after the admission process.
The school has received 126 admission requests since it started the online programme on October 15, while 265 candidates took the physics and mathematics examinations in the past 10 years.
Besides airlines, aviation academies are also making greater use of the online course. They are asking their students to take the mandatory subjects via NOS to pursue their dream.
Airlines, which have been scouring the globe for pilots, feel the online exams will expedite pilot training and many more can join the workforce in shortest time.
25/11/07 Chanchal Pal Chauhan/Economic Times
Set your sights
In his late teens, my nephew declared one day that he wanted to become a professional pilot after his studies. Now, even as his passion for flying is unputdownable, I could not see how I could help, given his eyesight weakness.
He has been wearing glasses from his childhood owing to a refractive error.
And now refractive surgery options are available to get one rid of one’s glasses. Says Dr Mahipal Sachdev, chairman and medical director, Centre for Sight, New Delhi, “Refractive surgery holds a lot of promise. When we hear about shortage of professional pilots in India and there is need of foreign pilots to take up the jobs here, we hope the availability of latest techniques in refractive surgery will be looked as a boon.”
For those not in the know, a refractive eye surgery is a general term for surgical procedures that can improve or correct the eye’s focus by permanently changing the shape of the cornea. The surgery is relatively painless, the full recovery period is as short as a few days, and the whole experience lasts less than 20 minutes in most cases.
By the standards of many surgeries, this is a very simple procedure. A large percentage of patients walk out of the surgery and within hours are seeing better than they’ve seen in years. Within time, generally within a few weeks’ time at the most, they see at 20/20 or 20/40.
The latest surgeries include Radial Keratotomy, Photorefractive Keratectomy, Laser In Situ Keratomileusis(LASIK), Intracorneal Ring and Implantable Contact Lens. In fact, the latest option, INTRALASE with customvue, is also now available in India.
Intralase, coupled with VISX excimer technology (customvue), is the only laser procedure certified for US Air Force and Navy.
In a short period of just three to four months, more than 700 pilots have had laser vision correction. And more than 95% of them said that after laser vision correction with Intralase and customvue, their flying capabilities improved with better visual acuity.
What’s more, commercial airlines have now approved laser vision correction as an acceptable treatment to get rid of glasses.
Of course, each airline company has its own vision standards for commercial pilots and most major air carriers allow pilots to fly after refractive surgery. But airlines may impose a waiting period (usually six months) after surgery before considering hiring an applicant after refractive surgery.
With growing awareness and acceptability of such procedures, Indian Air Force and commercial airlines are also expected to allow their pilots to undergo such surgeries, giving a fresh life to their careers. However, what needs to be kept in mind is that it is impossible to treat all refractive errors and there are risks and complications that may result from laser vision correction.
25/11/07 Amitabh Baxi/Economic Times
To read the news in full |
PermaLink He has been wearing glasses from his childhood owing to a refractive error.
And now refractive surgery options are available to get one rid of one’s glasses. Says Dr Mahipal Sachdev, chairman and medical director, Centre for Sight, New Delhi, “Refractive surgery holds a lot of promise. When we hear about shortage of professional pilots in India and there is need of foreign pilots to take up the jobs here, we hope the availability of latest techniques in refractive surgery will be looked as a boon.”
For those not in the know, a refractive eye surgery is a general term for surgical procedures that can improve or correct the eye’s focus by permanently changing the shape of the cornea. The surgery is relatively painless, the full recovery period is as short as a few days, and the whole experience lasts less than 20 minutes in most cases.
By the standards of many surgeries, this is a very simple procedure. A large percentage of patients walk out of the surgery and within hours are seeing better than they’ve seen in years. Within time, generally within a few weeks’ time at the most, they see at 20/20 or 20/40.
The latest surgeries include Radial Keratotomy, Photorefractive Keratectomy, Laser In Situ Keratomileusis(LASIK), Intracorneal Ring and Implantable Contact Lens. In fact, the latest option, INTRALASE with customvue, is also now available in India.
Intralase, coupled with VISX excimer technology (customvue), is the only laser procedure certified for US Air Force and Navy.
In a short period of just three to four months, more than 700 pilots have had laser vision correction. And more than 95% of them said that after laser vision correction with Intralase and customvue, their flying capabilities improved with better visual acuity.
What’s more, commercial airlines have now approved laser vision correction as an acceptable treatment to get rid of glasses.
Of course, each airline company has its own vision standards for commercial pilots and most major air carriers allow pilots to fly after refractive surgery. But airlines may impose a waiting period (usually six months) after surgery before considering hiring an applicant after refractive surgery.
With growing awareness and acceptability of such procedures, Indian Air Force and commercial airlines are also expected to allow their pilots to undergo such surgeries, giving a fresh life to their careers. However, what needs to be kept in mind is that it is impossible to treat all refractive errors and there are risks and complications that may result from laser vision correction.
25/11/07 Amitabh Baxi/Economic Times
Saturday, November 24, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Shortage of pilots, air-traffic controllers turns focus on safety
Chennai: The aviation industry in India is facing a rising shortage of trained pilots and air-traffic controllers.
Over the last three years, the number of aircraft in Indian skies has almost doubled to over 300, and there will be an additional 250 aircraft by 2010, according to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), an aviation consultancy. This will generate a demand for at least 2,000 additional pilots in the next three years, and 15,000 more by 2020 — and these are conservative estimates.
The airlines are already facing the strain of increased competition and more packed schedules with limited resources at their disposal. A Civil Aviation Ministry source told The Hindu that this led to increased violations of air-safety norms, particularly among new airlines that were under pressure to balance their books. The source said that violations of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for pilots were “widespread,” and the regulatory agencies were “struggling” to enforce their regulations.
“But the fact of the matter is every operator is politically influential, so there is not much we can do.”
As the skies become more crowded — aircraft movements increased by 30 per cent in the past year — the role of air-traffic controllers has become more important than ever.
An airport official said that while the present situation was “manageable” for ATCs, there was an urgent need to improve the existing infrastructure now if the expected increase in traffic was to be handled. “The current equipment is outdated by more than 10 years,” the official said.
24/11/07 Ananth Krishnan/The Hindu
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Over the last three years, the number of aircraft in Indian skies has almost doubled to over 300, and there will be an additional 250 aircraft by 2010, according to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), an aviation consultancy. This will generate a demand for at least 2,000 additional pilots in the next three years, and 15,000 more by 2020 — and these are conservative estimates.
The airlines are already facing the strain of increased competition and more packed schedules with limited resources at their disposal. A Civil Aviation Ministry source told The Hindu that this led to increased violations of air-safety norms, particularly among new airlines that were under pressure to balance their books. The source said that violations of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for pilots were “widespread,” and the regulatory agencies were “struggling” to enforce their regulations.
“But the fact of the matter is every operator is politically influential, so there is not much we can do.”
As the skies become more crowded — aircraft movements increased by 30 per cent in the past year — the role of air-traffic controllers has become more important than ever.
An airport official said that while the present situation was “manageable” for ATCs, there was an urgent need to improve the existing infrastructure now if the expected increase in traffic was to be handled. “The current equipment is outdated by more than 10 years,” the official said.
24/11/07 Ananth Krishnan/The Hindu
IAF to induct new pilot testing system by early 2008
New Delhi: The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed a new system for the selection of new pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the wake of changing technologies and the growing automation in the new fleets of fighter aircraft.
"The new system termed Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) will be in place by early next year,' said Chief Controller of DRDO's R and D wing, Dr W. Selvamurthy on the sidelines of a function here today.
The new system, which has cost the Government rupees 20 crores, is being claimed by DRDO officials as the best technology in the world since it has amalgamated the finest available technologies from the US, the UK, France and Israel.
The stimulated cockpit has been developed by a group of 12 scientists and it took six years for them to come out with this fully computerized system that takes into account the candidates' cognitive performance and has a unique psycho data processing software.
A total of 90 units of this system will be deployed in three IAF Selection Boards of the air force with each centers being allotted a total of 30 units of CPSS, 10 of which will be kept for stand-by purpose.
23/11/07 ANI/TopNews
To read the news in full |
PermaLink "The new system termed Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) will be in place by early next year,' said Chief Controller of DRDO's R and D wing, Dr W. Selvamurthy on the sidelines of a function here today.
The new system, which has cost the Government rupees 20 crores, is being claimed by DRDO officials as the best technology in the world since it has amalgamated the finest available technologies from the US, the UK, France and Israel.
The stimulated cockpit has been developed by a group of 12 scientists and it took six years for them to come out with this fully computerized system that takes into account the candidates' cognitive performance and has a unique psycho data processing software.
A total of 90 units of this system will be deployed in three IAF Selection Boards of the air force with each centers being allotted a total of 30 units of CPSS, 10 of which will be kept for stand-by purpose.
23/11/07 ANI/TopNews
Friday, November 23, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
804 foreign pilots to fly in India
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has cleared 804 foreign pilots to fly in India, the Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, told Parliament on Thursday.
Jet Airways has employed 271 foreign pilots while Air Deccan has 149 foreign pilots, the Minister said.
The other airlines that have employed foreign pilots include Air India (117), Kingfisher Airlines (95), Indigo (66), SpiceJet (42), Paramount (21) and Alliance Air (20), Mr Patel said.
22/11/07 Business Line
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Jet Airways has employed 271 foreign pilots while Air Deccan has 149 foreign pilots, the Minister said.
The other airlines that have employed foreign pilots include Air India (117), Kingfisher Airlines (95), Indigo (66), SpiceJet (42), Paramount (21) and Alliance Air (20), Mr Patel said.
22/11/07 Business Line
Pilot exodus hits Global Vectra
Mumbai: Offshore helicopter company Global Vectra Helicorp India’s largest offshore air logistics provider is flying through rough weather.
More than 30% of the pilots on the company’s rolls have walked out in the past four months to join a rival startup. Among those who quit are senior pilots and engineers, including the chief pilot and chief engineer and technicians.
The number of ‘aircraft on ground’ incidents have gone up substantially because of the shortage of pilots for which Global Vectra has to pay liquidated damages to the oil companies.
Responding to questions on the situation, the Global Vectra CEO Allan Brown said, “... It is quite natural that crew members and engineers would want to look at more lucrative alternatives. We wish them well. However, we have taken care that our clients are not facing a problem due of this because we serve our clients with complete commitment. We have recruited some more competent personnel in our crews, which is taking care of the situation.”
Helicopter pilots and engineers, a rare commodity in India, are even more difficult to find now because of a boom in the oil industry. Global Vectra which has grown rapidly to a fleet of 22 helicopters had about 54 pilots on its rolls, of which about 17 have quit.
Getting foreign pilots to fill the gap is a long process that involves elaborate clearances from the Indian regulatory authorities.
23/11/07 Cuckoo Paul/Economic Times
To read the news in full |
PermaLink More than 30% of the pilots on the company’s rolls have walked out in the past four months to join a rival startup. Among those who quit are senior pilots and engineers, including the chief pilot and chief engineer and technicians.
The number of ‘aircraft on ground’ incidents have gone up substantially because of the shortage of pilots for which Global Vectra has to pay liquidated damages to the oil companies.
Responding to questions on the situation, the Global Vectra CEO Allan Brown said, “... It is quite natural that crew members and engineers would want to look at more lucrative alternatives. We wish them well. However, we have taken care that our clients are not facing a problem due of this because we serve our clients with complete commitment. We have recruited some more competent personnel in our crews, which is taking care of the situation.”
Helicopter pilots and engineers, a rare commodity in India, are even more difficult to find now because of a boom in the oil industry. Global Vectra which has grown rapidly to a fleet of 22 helicopters had about 54 pilots on its rolls, of which about 17 have quit.
Getting foreign pilots to fill the gap is a long process that involves elaborate clearances from the Indian regulatory authorities.
23/11/07 Cuckoo Paul/Economic Times
Aviation: Grounded by manpower shortage
There has has been a phenomenal growth in the civil aviation sector. Three years ago, there were 130 commercial aircraft, and the number has now swelled to 350. Increased fleet will enable approximately 2,000 commercial flights every day by 2020.
The sector's primary concern is finding manpower, especially pilots. Currently, the shortage of pilots has led to the recruitment of foreign pilots. Though there are a few pilot-training institutions in the country, they are not able to meet the demand, and many aspiring pilots go abroad for training, which is very expensive.
The shortage may touch 2,000 by 2010. The Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, wants to set up a national flying school in his constituency at Gondia, Maharashtra. Some, however, fear that the additional training facilities being set up may create a glut of pilots.
Cabin crew training has also gained significance, and many training institutes have mushroomed. Recently, a Pune-based institute arranged for practical hands-on training for its students with the Airports Authority of India. However, the demand will continue to grow, as even the no-frills airlines need cabin crew for ensuring safety.
One area of concern as far as aviation manpower is concerned is finding technical ground staff. Only a few institutions offer programmes in aeronautical engineering. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, awards post-graduate degrees; the Aeronautical Society of India conducts examinations for students enrolled for its distance-learning programme. Though considered equivalent to an aeronautical engineering degree, this programme, which is very useful for working professionals, has not been too successful.
The existing facilities for training aeronautical engineers are far from adequate and the situation is only likely to worsen in the future.
Aviation management is a course that is gaining importance now. All tasks to be performed in the air require quick reaction time and reflexes. It is therefore important that the air crew should be young. Second, optimum output should be obtained from the aircraft.
22/11/07 H. Kaushal/Business Line/Sify
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The sector's primary concern is finding manpower, especially pilots. Currently, the shortage of pilots has led to the recruitment of foreign pilots. Though there are a few pilot-training institutions in the country, they are not able to meet the demand, and many aspiring pilots go abroad for training, which is very expensive.
The shortage may touch 2,000 by 2010. The Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, wants to set up a national flying school in his constituency at Gondia, Maharashtra. Some, however, fear that the additional training facilities being set up may create a glut of pilots.
Cabin crew training has also gained significance, and many training institutes have mushroomed. Recently, a Pune-based institute arranged for practical hands-on training for its students with the Airports Authority of India. However, the demand will continue to grow, as even the no-frills airlines need cabin crew for ensuring safety.
One area of concern as far as aviation manpower is concerned is finding technical ground staff. Only a few institutions offer programmes in aeronautical engineering. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, awards post-graduate degrees; the Aeronautical Society of India conducts examinations for students enrolled for its distance-learning programme. Though considered equivalent to an aeronautical engineering degree, this programme, which is very useful for working professionals, has not been too successful.
The existing facilities for training aeronautical engineers are far from adequate and the situation is only likely to worsen in the future.
Aviation management is a course that is gaining importance now. All tasks to be performed in the air require quick reaction time and reflexes. It is therefore important that the air crew should be young. Second, optimum output should be obtained from the aircraft.
22/11/07 H. Kaushal/Business Line/Sify
KAT to introduce B2B airline programme by 2007-end
Bangalore: Kuoni Academy of Travel (KAT) is poised to introduce a course titled 'Airport Handling Program' by 2007-end. The programme is designed to attune the airport staff to better customer orientation and self motivation methods that will help empower them to serve their customers in a more efficient manner. KAT is currently in talks with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) in terms of launching the programme, which will be completely managed by the KAT, at the Bangalore Airport by end of the year.
Earlier too, KAT has initiated B2B programmes for the travel industry. It has conducted programmes for Air India and Jet Airways. Elaborating on the need for trained manpower in the industry Bernard Martyris, Chief - Human Resources, Kuoni Travel Group, maintained, "The most significant feature of the tourism industry is the capacity to generate large-scale employment opportunities. With economic liberalisation and the open-sky policy, the travel and tourism and hospitality industries are progressing in leaps and bounds, attracting thousands of aspirants to make a career in this industry."
22/11/07 Anita Jain/TravelBizMonitor
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Earlier too, KAT has initiated B2B programmes for the travel industry. It has conducted programmes for Air India and Jet Airways. Elaborating on the need for trained manpower in the industry Bernard Martyris, Chief - Human Resources, Kuoni Travel Group, maintained, "The most significant feature of the tourism industry is the capacity to generate large-scale employment opportunities. With economic liberalisation and the open-sky policy, the travel and tourism and hospitality industries are progressing in leaps and bounds, attracting thousands of aspirants to make a career in this industry."
22/11/07 Anita Jain/TravelBizMonitor
Thursday, November 22, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Haryana trained pilots with forged documents: lawyer
Chandigarh: A lawyer here has claimed to have unearthed a major racket in which scores of candidates furnished forged or false documents to the state civil aviation authorities to get admission at the government-run flying academies.
Using the Right to Information (RTI) Act, lawyer Lakhbir Singh claimed Wednesday that these trained pilots could be a threat to India's national security, given what happened to the World Trade Centre buildings in the US in 2001.
Singh alleged that civil aviation officials, including flying instructors, could be hand in glove with the candidates in allowing them to receive flying training based on false documents.
Singh claimed that he was in possession of a confidential police report which pointed out that state civil aviation officials and flying instructors at the Pinjore flying club had colluded with candidates to allow them to receive training on the basis of false documents.
21/11/07 IANS/Earthtimes, UK
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Using the Right to Information (RTI) Act, lawyer Lakhbir Singh claimed Wednesday that these trained pilots could be a threat to India's national security, given what happened to the World Trade Centre buildings in the US in 2001.
Singh alleged that civil aviation officials, including flying instructors, could be hand in glove with the candidates in allowing them to receive flying training based on false documents.
Singh claimed that he was in possession of a confidential police report which pointed out that state civil aviation officials and flying instructors at the Pinjore flying club had colluded with candidates to allow them to receive training on the basis of false documents.
21/11/07 IANS/Earthtimes, UK
Taiwan pilots may 'jump' to foreign airlines
Taipei, Taiwan: While most Taiwanese enterprises have relocated their production abroad, it is now time for domestic airplane pilots to jump on the exodus bandwagon to pursue higher pay and fringe benefits, an official with the Taiwan Airline Pilots Association said.
The association official made the remarks in response to the recent visit of Rishworth Aviation, one of the world's leading crew and human resources firms, to Taiwan to solicit pilots for airlines in the Middle East, India, Vietnam and mainland China.
As many as over 100 domestic pilots attended the recruitment session hosted by Rishworth Aviation, which has provided flight crew and maintenance personnel to major airlines in over 40 countries since 1985.
The move by Rishworth Aviation to woo pilots from Taiwan for airlines in India, Vietnam and mainland China, which are all witnessing robust economic development, is the expected reason for the exodus of Taiwanese pilot reaching a peak.
According to statistics compiled by the association, there are now 1,700 pilots working for Taiwan's airline firms, including 600 foreign pilots and 1,100 domestic pilots.
In the first 10 months of this year, more than 70 pilots, including 50 foreign pilots and 20 domestic pilots, quit their jobs at Taiwan's airline firms to take other jobs at foreign airline firms.
In December, the association said, there will be more than 50 pilots, serving at Taiwanese airline firms, visiting Dubai to take a three-day exam given by Emirates Airline. This, coupled with Rishworth Aviation's ongoing recruitment, will prompt more and more Taiwanese pilots to take new jobs at foreign airlines.
Foreign international airlines offer attractive monthly pay of US$7,000 to US$14,000, plus lucrative fringe benefits such as accommodation and insurance.
By contrast, the monthly pay received by domestic pilots is now only two thirds of that received by foreign pilots, and their fringe benefits are also poorer than the latter.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's top two international airlines showed mixed responses to the recruiting move by Rishworth Aviation. China Airlines said the company will offer a better working environment for domestic pilots, in addition to raising monthly pay for them.
By contrast, Eva Airways said that exchange of pilots among domestic and foreign airlines is nothing unusual and won't impact the firm at all.
22/11/07 China Post, Taiwan
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The association official made the remarks in response to the recent visit of Rishworth Aviation, one of the world's leading crew and human resources firms, to Taiwan to solicit pilots for airlines in the Middle East, India, Vietnam and mainland China.
As many as over 100 domestic pilots attended the recruitment session hosted by Rishworth Aviation, which has provided flight crew and maintenance personnel to major airlines in over 40 countries since 1985.
The move by Rishworth Aviation to woo pilots from Taiwan for airlines in India, Vietnam and mainland China, which are all witnessing robust economic development, is the expected reason for the exodus of Taiwanese pilot reaching a peak.
According to statistics compiled by the association, there are now 1,700 pilots working for Taiwan's airline firms, including 600 foreign pilots and 1,100 domestic pilots.
In the first 10 months of this year, more than 70 pilots, including 50 foreign pilots and 20 domestic pilots, quit their jobs at Taiwan's airline firms to take other jobs at foreign airline firms.
In December, the association said, there will be more than 50 pilots, serving at Taiwanese airline firms, visiting Dubai to take a three-day exam given by Emirates Airline. This, coupled with Rishworth Aviation's ongoing recruitment, will prompt more and more Taiwanese pilots to take new jobs at foreign airlines.
Foreign international airlines offer attractive monthly pay of US$7,000 to US$14,000, plus lucrative fringe benefits such as accommodation and insurance.
By contrast, the monthly pay received by domestic pilots is now only two thirds of that received by foreign pilots, and their fringe benefits are also poorer than the latter.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's top two international airlines showed mixed responses to the recruiting move by Rishworth Aviation. China Airlines said the company will offer a better working environment for domestic pilots, in addition to raising monthly pay for them.
By contrast, Eva Airways said that exchange of pilots among domestic and foreign airlines is nothing unusual and won't impact the firm at all.
22/11/07 China Post, Taiwan
Global pilot shortage a looming crisis in Canada
The shortage of commercial pilots flying the skies above Canada and the world over is so serious that the International Civil Aviation Organization predicts at least 15,000 new pilots will be needed every year in the next two decades. Canada and the U.S. will need at least 60,000 new pilots by 2020.
For Canadians, massive retirement, competition from the air force and foreign airlines, and low salaries are among the factors contributing to a general fading of the romance of the skies.
Flight classes at the Algonquin Flight Centre in North Bay, Ont., still have too many vacant seats, the school's owner, Stefan Corriveau, told CBC News.
Corriveau said that an airline in the U.S. last month had to cancel four per cent of its flights because no flight crews were available. He worries for the future of pilots at home.
"I think those problems will come to Canada," he said.
Although Corriveau said he knows he can handle more students to train for the major airlines, he said the flight business has lost its appeal to a younger generation discouraged by low starting salaries and sky-high training costs.
"The salary issue is a very sensitive issue for a lot of pilots and in Canada right now, the opinion of many is that the salaries are way too low," he said.
To earn the minimum license required by commercial airlines at similar flight schools, students have to pay as much as $60,000, while starting salaries often barely crack $30,000.
European and Asian airlines flush with cash are also coming to Canada and luring away home-grown pilots.
21/11/07 CBC News, Canada
To read the news in full |
PermaLink For Canadians, massive retirement, competition from the air force and foreign airlines, and low salaries are among the factors contributing to a general fading of the romance of the skies.
Flight classes at the Algonquin Flight Centre in North Bay, Ont., still have too many vacant seats, the school's owner, Stefan Corriveau, told CBC News.
Corriveau said that an airline in the U.S. last month had to cancel four per cent of its flights because no flight crews were available. He worries for the future of pilots at home.
"I think those problems will come to Canada," he said.
Although Corriveau said he knows he can handle more students to train for the major airlines, he said the flight business has lost its appeal to a younger generation discouraged by low starting salaries and sky-high training costs.
"The salary issue is a very sensitive issue for a lot of pilots and in Canada right now, the opinion of many is that the salaries are way too low," he said.
To earn the minimum license required by commercial airlines at similar flight schools, students have to pay as much as $60,000, while starting salaries often barely crack $30,000.
European and Asian airlines flush with cash are also coming to Canada and luring away home-grown pilots.
21/11/07 CBC News, Canada
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Pilot shortage severe: Govt
New Delhi: As frequent cancellation and delay of planes plagued the national carrier Air India, the government said there was a shortage of pilots in the country.
It has been estimated that in the next five years 5,000 additional pilots would be required for scheduled operations and 1,000 pilots for non-scheduled and private operations, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told Rajya Sabha.
The government has taken various steps to reduce the gap between demand and supply of skilled pilots.
These include conditionally increasing the age limit to 65 years for pilots for exercising the privileges of their licences for commercial transport operations under prescribed conditions, upgradation and modernisation of training infrastructure of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi to enhance its training capacity.
It also plans to set up of a world class flying training institute at Gondia, Maharashtra, and assistance to flying clubs by allocating trainer aircraft through Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
20/11/07 Press Trust of India/NDTV.com
To read the news in full |
PermaLink It has been estimated that in the next five years 5,000 additional pilots would be required for scheduled operations and 1,000 pilots for non-scheduled and private operations, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told Rajya Sabha.
The government has taken various steps to reduce the gap between demand and supply of skilled pilots.
These include conditionally increasing the age limit to 65 years for pilots for exercising the privileges of their licences for commercial transport operations under prescribed conditions, upgradation and modernisation of training infrastructure of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi to enhance its training capacity.
It also plans to set up of a world class flying training institute at Gondia, Maharashtra, and assistance to flying clubs by allocating trainer aircraft through Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
20/11/07 Press Trust of India/NDTV.com
Air India recruiting pilots from abroad
Kochi: Facing flak following frequent flight disruptions over the past three days, national carrier Air India said it was facing shortage of pilots and was trying to overcome the situation by recruiting them from abroad.
"It is not as if the airline did not take necessary action. But the growth of the aviation sector has been so explosive that the airline was facing shortage and was taking in expatriate pilots," AI Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas told reporters.
Many youngsters were getting pilot training from abroad.But they can be inducted as co-pilots only as they need five to six years of flying experience. Only after that can they be appointed as commanders, Thulasidas said when asked about the drawbacks being faced by the country's premier airline.
20/11/07 Agencies/Financial Express
To read the news in full |
PermaLink "It is not as if the airline did not take necessary action. But the growth of the aviation sector has been so explosive that the airline was facing shortage and was taking in expatriate pilots," AI Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas told reporters.
Many youngsters were getting pilot training from abroad.But they can be inducted as co-pilots only as they need five to six years of flying experience. Only after that can they be appointed as commanders, Thulasidas said when asked about the drawbacks being faced by the country's premier airline.
20/11/07 Agencies/Financial Express
Indian student's death: Faulty fuel filter suspected in US plane crash
Boynton Beach: Federal investigators found an improperly assembled fuel filter on the single-engine plane that crashed on a golf course west of the city last month, killing a flight instructor and an Indian pilot student and critically injuring another Indian student.
An official with the National Transportation Safety Board also discovered a "fine-grained black particulate matter" in the Piper PA-28's fuel pump, according to a preliminary report the agency released today.
Meanwhile, the sole survivor in the crash, which happened about 8 p.m. on Oct. 27 on a putting green in the Quail Ridge Country Club off Golf Road, is recovering in a rehabilitation center at Delray Medical Center. Chandrashekhar Godghate, a 38-year-old flight student who traveled here with plans to earn his pilot's license before returning home to find work, was listed this afternoon in good condition, a hospital official said.
Godghate, who shares an apartment west of Lake Worth with a handful of other Indian flight students, was seated behind veteran flight instructor Anders Selberg, 46, and fellow trainee Arjun Chhikara, 18, during a training flight on the night of the crash, authorities said.
Both Selsberg and Chhikara were killed in the crash.
Federal investigators who pored over the wreckage in the days after the crash noted finding part of the fuel filter, known as a gascolator in aviation terminology, loose against the filter's housing.
"A washer was found between the gascolator bowl tightening screw and the bowl," the report noted.
*The airplane, in use by Kemper Aviation, a Lantana-based flight school, had last been inspected 24 days before the crash, when an overhauled fuel-sending unit and a fuel drain had been replaced on the right fuel tank. *The student pilot at the plane's left-hand controls had logged 360 hours of total flight time, including 42 hours at night, and had last flown five days before the crash.
*The flight instructor at the right-hand controls had logged more than 13,000 hours in single-engine airplanes and held multiple certifications.
*The flight school reported the plane's fuel tanks had been filled before take-off.
The NTSB will likely release a final report on the wreck in several months, officials said.
20/11/07 Michael LaForgia/Palm Beach Post, United States
To read the news in full |
PermaLink An official with the National Transportation Safety Board also discovered a "fine-grained black particulate matter" in the Piper PA-28's fuel pump, according to a preliminary report the agency released today.
Meanwhile, the sole survivor in the crash, which happened about 8 p.m. on Oct. 27 on a putting green in the Quail Ridge Country Club off Golf Road, is recovering in a rehabilitation center at Delray Medical Center. Chandrashekhar Godghate, a 38-year-old flight student who traveled here with plans to earn his pilot's license before returning home to find work, was listed this afternoon in good condition, a hospital official said.
Godghate, who shares an apartment west of Lake Worth with a handful of other Indian flight students, was seated behind veteran flight instructor Anders Selberg, 46, and fellow trainee Arjun Chhikara, 18, during a training flight on the night of the crash, authorities said.
Both Selsberg and Chhikara were killed in the crash.
Federal investigators who pored over the wreckage in the days after the crash noted finding part of the fuel filter, known as a gascolator in aviation terminology, loose against the filter's housing.
"A washer was found between the gascolator bowl tightening screw and the bowl," the report noted.
*The airplane, in use by Kemper Aviation, a Lantana-based flight school, had last been inspected 24 days before the crash, when an overhauled fuel-sending unit and a fuel drain had been replaced on the right fuel tank. *The student pilot at the plane's left-hand controls had logged 360 hours of total flight time, including 42 hours at night, and had last flown five days before the crash.
*The flight instructor at the right-hand controls had logged more than 13,000 hours in single-engine airplanes and held multiple certifications.
*The flight school reported the plane's fuel tanks had been filled before take-off.
The NTSB will likely release a final report on the wreck in several months, officials said.
20/11/07 Michael LaForgia/Palm Beach Post, United States
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Pawan Hans offers pilot training to engineers
New Delhi: Facing a severe shortage of pilots, the state-owned Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd (PHHL) has decided to upgrade skills of its aeronautical engineers to make them pilots. This process will cost the PSU Rs 15 lakh per person and in return it will seek a 10-year bond from the engineers, who will be required to invest Rs 7.5 lakh from their own packets for the training programmes abroad.
The helicopter major has started this as a small project for 10 people and would extend it later. The 35-chopper company wants to acquire nearly 20 more helicopters and cash in on the current aviation boom. So, the training programme has been mooted to overcome the pilot shortage scenario.
Currently India has about 170 choppers and a severe shortage of pilots. As an illustrative case, a paramilitary force had bought six MI-6 choppers about three years back and they remain parked at Safdarjung Airport as there were no pilots. In a few years, the number of choppers is going to rise to 500 and the requirement of fliers will only grow.
In fact, so bad is the situation that PHHL does not even want to divulge the number of pilots it has for running the 35-chopper fleet for the fear of poaching by other operators.
20/11/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The helicopter major has started this as a small project for 10 people and would extend it later. The 35-chopper company wants to acquire nearly 20 more helicopters and cash in on the current aviation boom. So, the training programme has been mooted to overcome the pilot shortage scenario.
Currently India has about 170 choppers and a severe shortage of pilots. As an illustrative case, a paramilitary force had bought six MI-6 choppers about three years back and they remain parked at Safdarjung Airport as there were no pilots. In a few years, the number of choppers is going to rise to 500 and the requirement of fliers will only grow.
In fact, so bad is the situation that PHHL does not even want to divulge the number of pilots it has for running the 35-chopper fleet for the fear of poaching by other operators.
20/11/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
SC issues notice to Centre on Air India cabin crew's plea
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre on a petition challenging the Delhi High Court's judgement that allowed appointment of female cabin crew members as In-Flight Supervisors (IFS) in the national carrier Air India.
For the last three decades, the posts of IFS has been reserved for flight pursers (male cabin crew members).
A bench headed by Justice H K Sema while continuing the status quo order passed earlier observed that it would not apply to post-1997 recruitments. It also sought response from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Air India and others.
Challenging the eligibility of female crew members for appointment as In-Flight Supervisors, Air India Cabin Crew Association and others submitted that the two cadres - Air Hostesses and Pursers - cannot be compared and seniority cannot be merged or equated.
19/11/07 PTI/Daily News & Analysis
To read the news in full |
PermaLink For the last three decades, the posts of IFS has been reserved for flight pursers (male cabin crew members).
A bench headed by Justice H K Sema while continuing the status quo order passed earlier observed that it would not apply to post-1997 recruitments. It also sought response from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Air India and others.
Challenging the eligibility of female crew members for appointment as In-Flight Supervisors, Air India Cabin Crew Association and others submitted that the two cadres - Air Hostesses and Pursers - cannot be compared and seniority cannot be merged or equated.
19/11/07 PTI/Daily News & Analysis
Monday, November 19, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Air India's domestic wing looking for Trainee Pilots
Applications are invited from qualified pilots by National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) to fill up existing vacancies of Senior Trainee Pilot/Trainee Pilot and to form a panel for future requirements in the domestic wing (erstwhile Indian) of Air India.
Last date of receipt of applications for both positions is December 3rd, 2007.
10+2 from a recognized Board/University is the academic qualification for both Trainee Pilots & Sr. Trainee Pilots. Upper age limit (as on 01.11.2007) too is the same: 35 Years (40 Years for SC/ST & 38 Years for OBC Candidates. Ex-Servicemen will be given age relaxation as per rules).
Sr.Trainee Pilot applicants should have either of the following technical qualifications:
A) With A-320 endorsement
Candidates must be in possession of Indian:
i) a)current CPL/SCPL/ALTP
b)current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s License
c) current C.O.P./R.T.R.
d)current medical
AND
ii) A-320 endorsement
OR
B) With Jet endorsement and 500 hrs. of airline jet experience
Candidates must be in possession of Indian:
i) a)current CPL/SCPL/ALTP
b)current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s License
c)current C.O.P./R.T.R.
d)current medical
e)current instrument rating on multi-engine aircraft
AND
ii) a) Jet endorsement
b) 500 hours of Airline Jet Experience
To apply for the post of Trainee Pilot, all applicants should be in possession of Indian:
a) current CPL/SCPL/ALTP
b) current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s License
c) current C.O.P./R.T.R.
d) current medical
e) multi-engine land: with a minimum of 25 hours on multi-engine aircraft
(10 hours can be completed on an approved multi-engine Simulator)
f) instrument rating on multi-engine aircraft.
Selection Process
For Senior Trainee Pilot:
Eligible candidates will undergo Simulator Proficiency Assessment Check (SPAC) on applicable simulator at Central Training Establishment, Hyderabad. Cost of Simulator Check (Rs.15000/-) will be payable by the candidate and Demand Draft payable to National Aviation Company of India Limited, Hyderabad is to be submitted before the Simulator Check. The result of the SPAC would be declared on the same day. Those who qualify the same will appear for Personal Interview at Hyderabad on the same or next day. Selected candidates will be advised to report for medical. Candidates, who are declared medically fit, will be required to report for pre-employment formalities at Delhi/Hyderabad.
For Trainee Pilot:
Eligible candidates will undergo a Written Test. Candidates qualifying the Written Test would be required to appear for Personal Interview. Note: Due weightage will be given to additional Flying Experience for Sr. Trainee Pilot and to Flying Experience for Trainee Pilot.
Application form can be downloaded from here or here.
The filled up application along with two passport size photographs and a non-refundable Bank Draft of Rs.500/- (Demand Draft not applicable in case of SC/ST/Ex-servicemen candidates) payable to National Aviation Company of India Limited, New Delhi, addressed to General Manager (Personnel), NACIL, Airlines House, 113, Gurudwara Rakabganj Road, New Delhi – 110001 on or before 3rd December 2007.
And don't forget to super-scribe the envelope “APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF SENIOR TRAINEE PILOT” OR “TRAINEE PILOT” as the case may be.
For details of cost of training, security deposit, bond, stipend etc and to read the notification in full with all details, please visit this link at the airlines site.
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Last date of receipt of applications for both positions is December 3rd, 2007.
10+2 from a recognized Board/University is the academic qualification for both Trainee Pilots & Sr. Trainee Pilots. Upper age limit (as on 01.11.2007) too is the same: 35 Years (40 Years for SC/ST & 38 Years for OBC Candidates. Ex-Servicemen will be given age relaxation as per rules).
Sr.Trainee Pilot applicants should have either of the following technical qualifications:
A) With A-320 endorsement
Candidates must be in possession of Indian:
i) a)current CPL/SCPL/ALTP
b)current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s License
c) current C.O.P./R.T.R.
d)current medical
AND
ii) A-320 endorsement
OR
B) With Jet endorsement and 500 hrs. of airline jet experience
Candidates must be in possession of Indian:
i) a)current CPL/SCPL/ALTP
b)current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s License
c)current C.O.P./R.T.R.
d)current medical
e)current instrument rating on multi-engine aircraft
AND
ii) a) Jet endorsement
b) 500 hours of Airline Jet Experience
To apply for the post of Trainee Pilot, all applicants should be in possession of Indian:
a) current CPL/SCPL/ALTP
b) current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s License
c) current C.O.P./R.T.R.
d) current medical
e) multi-engine land: with a minimum of 25 hours on multi-engine aircraft
(10 hours can be completed on an approved multi-engine Simulator)
f) instrument rating on multi-engine aircraft.
Selection Process
For Senior Trainee Pilot:
Eligible candidates will undergo Simulator Proficiency Assessment Check (SPAC) on applicable simulator at Central Training Establishment, Hyderabad. Cost of Simulator Check (Rs.15000/-) will be payable by the candidate and Demand Draft payable to National Aviation Company of India Limited, Hyderabad is to be submitted before the Simulator Check. The result of the SPAC would be declared on the same day. Those who qualify the same will appear for Personal Interview at Hyderabad on the same or next day. Selected candidates will be advised to report for medical. Candidates, who are declared medically fit, will be required to report for pre-employment formalities at Delhi/Hyderabad.
For Trainee Pilot:
Eligible candidates will undergo a Written Test. Candidates qualifying the Written Test would be required to appear for Personal Interview. Note: Due weightage will be given to additional Flying Experience for Sr. Trainee Pilot and to Flying Experience for Trainee Pilot.
Application form can be downloaded from here or here.
The filled up application along with two passport size photographs and a non-refundable Bank Draft of Rs.500/- (Demand Draft not applicable in case of SC/ST/Ex-servicemen candidates) payable to National Aviation Company of India Limited, New Delhi, addressed to General Manager (Personnel), NACIL, Airlines House, 113, Gurudwara Rakabganj Road, New Delhi – 110001 on or before 3rd December 2007.
And don't forget to super-scribe the envelope “APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF SENIOR TRAINEE PILOT” OR “TRAINEE PILOT” as the case may be.
For details of cost of training, security deposit, bond, stipend etc and to read the notification in full with all details, please visit this link at the airlines site.
Pilots look to get their sums right
New Delhi: It’s back to basics for hundreds of pilots who need a commercial pilot’s licence (CPL) to fly in the Indian skies.
With the aviation sector booming, a large number of pilots are queuing up for “on-demand” examination with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to improve their grades in maths and physics. Under Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules, a minimum of 50% marks in both mathematics and physics at the senior secondary level are need to get a CPL.
Hence, despite having hours of flying experience and valid flying licences from other countries, pilots applying for the CPL are facing problems at the Indian end for want of maths and physics.
These pilots are from the Indian Air Force (IAF) (both serving and retired), people of Indian origin (PIO), non-resident Indians (NRIs), old commercial pilots seeking renewal of licences and students.
The NIOS’s “on-demand” examination programme, gives students an option to reappear in particular papers whenever they want.
19/11/07 Vineeta Pandey/Daily News & Analysis
To read the news in full |
PermaLink With the aviation sector booming, a large number of pilots are queuing up for “on-demand” examination with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to improve their grades in maths and physics. Under Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules, a minimum of 50% marks in both mathematics and physics at the senior secondary level are need to get a CPL.
Hence, despite having hours of flying experience and valid flying licences from other countries, pilots applying for the CPL are facing problems at the Indian end for want of maths and physics.
These pilots are from the Indian Air Force (IAF) (both serving and retired), people of Indian origin (PIO), non-resident Indians (NRIs), old commercial pilots seeking renewal of licences and students.
The NIOS’s “on-demand” examination programme, gives students an option to reappear in particular papers whenever they want.
19/11/07 Vineeta Pandey/Daily News & Analysis
Air Hostess Academy to mark its international debut
New Delhi: Air Hostess Academy (AHA), the New Delhi-based institute that grooms aspirants for the aviation and hospitality sectors, plans to mark its international debut soon. The company is looking to open centres in Sydney, Australia and London, United Kingdom. Besides, it is also keen to augment its presence in the country, by setting-up centres in cities like Lucknow, Hyderabad, Shillong, Bhopal, Nasik, Coimbatore, Bhubneshwar and Ranchi, among others.
Currently, the company has 31 centres, of which 15 are owned and managed by AHA, while the rest are franchisees. The company aims to have 50 centres across India.
18/11/07 Shayan Mallick/TravelBizMonitor
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Currently, the company has 31 centres, of which 15 are owned and managed by AHA, while the rest are franchisees. The company aims to have 50 centres across India.
18/11/07 Shayan Mallick/TravelBizMonitor
A breakthrough for Indian aviation industry
"India needs 4000 pilots by 2010!" or "Aircraft deliveries on hold due to shortfall of pilots!" are oft heard phrases at a time when commercial pilots are the need of the hour in the aviation industry.
Yet there exists a certain level of disconcertion for students, once they actually embark on the process to become a commercial pilot.
The only option to receive a CPL (Commercial Pilot License) for the aspirants is to train abroad. The reason being that in India, there is a lack of dedicated flight Instructors, decade-old aircrafts and poor quality training offered at a price much higher than what is offered by flying schools in USA, Canada and Australia!
Amit Agarwal, CEO, Supreme Aviation India, himself a commercial pilot, has experienced all the hardships and complications by different bodies throughout his journey. However, his passion to fly did not cease, ultimately making him fly to over 18 different states in America, in the course of his challenging training. Later, he decided to serve the Indian aviation industry, by helping future aviators and aspiring pilots to walk their way through their training.
Supreme Aviation India has already trained 50+ pilots, with the help of their training partners in the USA. Transparency and one-stop solutions, right from their medicals to visa, accommodations, travel, flight training and finally conversion of licenses, have made Supreme Aviation India the obvious choice for future Indian aviators.
19/11/07 Supreme Aviation India/Express TravelWorld
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Yet there exists a certain level of disconcertion for students, once they actually embark on the process to become a commercial pilot.
The only option to receive a CPL (Commercial Pilot License) for the aspirants is to train abroad. The reason being that in India, there is a lack of dedicated flight Instructors, decade-old aircrafts and poor quality training offered at a price much higher than what is offered by flying schools in USA, Canada and Australia!
Amit Agarwal, CEO, Supreme Aviation India, himself a commercial pilot, has experienced all the hardships and complications by different bodies throughout his journey. However, his passion to fly did not cease, ultimately making him fly to over 18 different states in America, in the course of his challenging training. Later, he decided to serve the Indian aviation industry, by helping future aviators and aspiring pilots to walk their way through their training.
Supreme Aviation India has already trained 50+ pilots, with the help of their training partners in the USA. Transparency and one-stop solutions, right from their medicals to visa, accommodations, travel, flight training and finally conversion of licenses, have made Supreme Aviation India the obvious choice for future Indian aviators.
19/11/07 Supreme Aviation India/Express TravelWorld
Saturday, November 17, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Big dreams take flight in small planes in Nogales
The airstrip at Nogales International Airport is a place of small planes and big dreams, where students from all over the world take to the sky.
Here at Tiffin Aviation Services (TAS) Flight School, a student can earn a commercial pilot's license in six months to a year, said owner Larry Tiffin. Many of the students come from India, where aviation training could take a year and a half or longer. Others come from Japan, Germany, Mexico and the United States.
Currently, 24 foreign and 10 domestic students are enrolled in the school, he said.
Students study on the ground with a simulator for two weeks before Tiffin puts them in the pilot's seat of a four-passenger Cessna 172, he said.
Rohit Bikel completed ground training in India before he arrived in Nogales, he said. On his first flight last July, Tiffin sat beside him and told him to fly the plane.
"If you want to be a good pilot, you have to trust your instructor," Bikel said. "I prayed to God and I just did it."
After the Indian students earn their wings, they'll return to India to become first officers on the A-320 Airbus, Tiffin said.
"Getting an Indian pilot's license is really difficult," Bikel said.
He researched aviation schools in Australia, Canada and South Africa before choosing TAS, he said. The Nogales school offered good weather almost year-round and more than 200 hours of in-air instruction, a requirement to get a commercial pilot's license in India.
Indian students must also earn a radio-telephone operator's license and they can't get it in the United States, Bikel said. He took his exam Nov. 7 in Ontario, Canada, and returned to Nogales to fly some more. Once he graduates and returns to India, he will face a grueling written exam and flying test.
The Indian students pay almost $40,000, including lodging and meals, for almost 250 hours of flying time, Tiffin said. For a local student, it costs about $31,000 to complete the 200 hours of in-air time for a U.S. commercial license. If a student wanted only a private pilot's license, the cost is $5,000 for 40 hours of flying instruction.
Enrollment is open year-round, but Tiffin likes to start students in groups of four so they have study partners, he said. The students room together in motels in Nogales and Patagonia and a cab picks them up early in the morning.
16/11/07 Denise Holley/Nogales International, US
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Here at Tiffin Aviation Services (TAS) Flight School, a student can earn a commercial pilot's license in six months to a year, said owner Larry Tiffin. Many of the students come from India, where aviation training could take a year and a half or longer. Others come from Japan, Germany, Mexico and the United States.
Currently, 24 foreign and 10 domestic students are enrolled in the school, he said.
Students study on the ground with a simulator for two weeks before Tiffin puts them in the pilot's seat of a four-passenger Cessna 172, he said.
Rohit Bikel completed ground training in India before he arrived in Nogales, he said. On his first flight last July, Tiffin sat beside him and told him to fly the plane.
"If you want to be a good pilot, you have to trust your instructor," Bikel said. "I prayed to God and I just did it."
After the Indian students earn their wings, they'll return to India to become first officers on the A-320 Airbus, Tiffin said.
"Getting an Indian pilot's license is really difficult," Bikel said.
He researched aviation schools in Australia, Canada and South Africa before choosing TAS, he said. The Nogales school offered good weather almost year-round and more than 200 hours of in-air instruction, a requirement to get a commercial pilot's license in India.
Indian students must also earn a radio-telephone operator's license and they can't get it in the United States, Bikel said. He took his exam Nov. 7 in Ontario, Canada, and returned to Nogales to fly some more. Once he graduates and returns to India, he will face a grueling written exam and flying test.
The Indian students pay almost $40,000, including lodging and meals, for almost 250 hours of flying time, Tiffin said. For a local student, it costs about $31,000 to complete the 200 hours of in-air time for a U.S. commercial license. If a student wanted only a private pilot's license, the cost is $5,000 for 40 hours of flying instruction.
Enrollment is open year-round, but Tiffin likes to start students in groups of four so they have study partners, he said. The students room together in motels in Nogales and Patagonia and a cab picks them up early in the morning.
16/11/07 Denise Holley/Nogales International, US
Thursday, November 15, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Alpha Aviation Group and Air Arabia launch International Aviation Training Academy
Alpha Aviation Group, the specialist global aviation training provider, and Air Arabia (PJSC) , the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today at the Dubai Air Show the signing of a joint venture agreement to launch a new multi-million dollar International Aviation Training Academy based in Sharjah, UAE.
Alpha Aviation Academy (UAE) LLC is the second of Alpha's global network of International Aviation Academies and will be modelled on its existing academy, Clark Aviation, based in the Philippines. In addition to satisfying Air Arabia's own internal needs for pilots to man its expanding fleet of aircraft, the Academy will also train and supply pilots for other carriers in the region.
Operations are scheduled to commence in early 2008, training ab-initio airline pilots under the new ICAO Multi Crew Pilot Licence. Phase II will extend operations to include training for cabin crew, engineering and other aviation operational personnel. Following ongoing discussions with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the application for approval of the Academy is in process.
14/11/07 AME Info, United Arab Emirates
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Alpha Aviation Academy (UAE) LLC is the second of Alpha's global network of International Aviation Academies and will be modelled on its existing academy, Clark Aviation, based in the Philippines. In addition to satisfying Air Arabia's own internal needs for pilots to man its expanding fleet of aircraft, the Academy will also train and supply pilots for other carriers in the region.
Operations are scheduled to commence in early 2008, training ab-initio airline pilots under the new ICAO Multi Crew Pilot Licence. Phase II will extend operations to include training for cabin crew, engineering and other aviation operational personnel. Following ongoing discussions with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the application for approval of the Academy is in process.
14/11/07 AME Info, United Arab Emirates
GCC, India aviation sector needs 3,000 new pilots a year to 2015
Dubai: The growth of the aviation sector in the GCC and India is such that 3,000 new pilots will need to be trained each year until 2015, according to president and CEO of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) University, George Ebbs.
The GCC and India is the university's primary focus and growth in the region's aviation sector has been the impetus behind the setting up of an aerospace university.
In the civil aviation sector more widely, an aviation and aerospace market research firm has estimated the GCC and subcontinent will need to fill 700,000 skilled positions by 2015, he noted.
But while the university's priority is to fill the requirements of the industry in the GCC and India, it has, as a secondary focus, the whole MENA region, followed by South East Asia and South China, said Ebbs.
The inaugural students, 21 in total, commenced their course in September and will graduate during the 2010-2012 academic year. Next February, DAE University, which is based in Academic City, will open a new division, the DAE Flight Academy at Ras Al Khaimah.
The programme will deliver highly qualified first officer candidates in an accelerated 12 to 14 months, said Ebbs.
15/11/07 Lucia Dore/Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The GCC and India is the university's primary focus and growth in the region's aviation sector has been the impetus behind the setting up of an aerospace university.
In the civil aviation sector more widely, an aviation and aerospace market research firm has estimated the GCC and subcontinent will need to fill 700,000 skilled positions by 2015, he noted.
But while the university's priority is to fill the requirements of the industry in the GCC and India, it has, as a secondary focus, the whole MENA region, followed by South East Asia and South China, said Ebbs.
The inaugural students, 21 in total, commenced their course in September and will graduate during the 2010-2012 academic year. Next February, DAE University, which is based in Academic City, will open a new division, the DAE Flight Academy at Ras Al Khaimah.
The programme will deliver highly qualified first officer candidates in an accelerated 12 to 14 months, said Ebbs.
15/11/07 Lucia Dore/Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Griffith Aero Club looks at India to survive
The future of the Griffith Aero Club remains up in the air with the board set to hold an extraordinary meeting within a fortnight to decide on a plan to try to turn the club’s struggling fortunes around.
With the loss of its senior flying instructor earlier in the year to Regional Express (Rex) and the drought hurting its recreational activities, the club has floated a number of business proposals in an attempt to build on its 61-year history.
Club president Denis Couch said one of the proposals to be discussed at the extraordinary meeting would be drawing on Griffith’s cultural ties with India to establish a foreign student training school.
“The Indian aviation industry is sending a lot of people to Australia for their training and with our cultural mix here we are hoping to get something up and running,” he said.
Mayor Dino Zappacosta said the council were looking at setting up a corporation to run the whole airport as a separate entity of council and “had a strong interest” in ensuring the club survived.
14/11/07 Ross Tyson/Area News, Australia
To read the news in full |
PermaLink With the loss of its senior flying instructor earlier in the year to Regional Express (Rex) and the drought hurting its recreational activities, the club has floated a number of business proposals in an attempt to build on its 61-year history.
Club president Denis Couch said one of the proposals to be discussed at the extraordinary meeting would be drawing on Griffith’s cultural ties with India to establish a foreign student training school.
“The Indian aviation industry is sending a lot of people to Australia for their training and with our cultural mix here we are hoping to get something up and running,” he said.
Mayor Dino Zappacosta said the council were looking at setting up a corporation to run the whole airport as a separate entity of council and “had a strong interest” in ensuring the club survived.
14/11/07 Ross Tyson/Area News, Australia
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Kenya too hit by shortage of pilots
Kenya’s fast growing aviation industry is facing a shortage of pilots.
The industry is currently struggling to train enough pilots to meet increasing demand, especially with the entry of new carriers in the past three years.
There are over 2,000 pilots in the country and according to industry sources, they do not come close to meeting demand.
Kenya Airways, which employs most pilots in the country, has been hit hard by the shortage. Speaking during a recent Press briefing, the airline’s managing director, Mr Titus Naikuni, said the airline was playing catch up ahead of expected new plane deliveries.
The airline, he said, needs up to 330 pilots to meet demand but has been able to recruit 301 to date.
One key issue leading to the shortage is the cost of training pilots. It takes up to Sh3 million to train a commercial pilot in the country. Training takes up to two years and is taken in various stages.
“If we had many training schools there would be increased competition and this could bring down the cost,” chief executive officer of Kenya Association of Air Operators, Eutychus Waithaka, said. There are four training schools in the country.
High taxes on the industry also make it expensive to train. “Schools are left with no extra money to subsidise the fees and the sector does not benefit from the industrial training levy, that is why many pilots are training abroad,” Mr Waithaka added.
Training in South Africa and the US has become more attractive due to the affordability. Once back in the country the pilot has to undergo tests to convert to a Kenyan license.
Jet link, a local carrier sends its pilots overseas for further training to meet the company’s standards and learn how to operate its aircraft which are mainly sourced from Canada.
Poaching of local staff, especially by Middle East carriers, has also dealt local carriers a blow. The country has been losing its talent to other countries. According to Mr Waithaka the starting salary of a commercial pilot is Sh50,000 excluding allowances.
The shortage is not unique to Kenya. It is currently a global concern as air travel continues to record positive growth. Japan, the US, China, India and countries in the Middle East are tying to deal with the shortage.
A recent report from India stated the industry had made a move to scout for talent abroad, just like China recently did, to meet increased demand for pilots.
Currently, there are over 3,000 pilots in India. Of these, 600 are foreigners, and with over 400 aircraft on order the country will need over 110,000 pilots by 2020.
13/11/07 Wangui Maina/Business Daily Africa, Kenya
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The industry is currently struggling to train enough pilots to meet increasing demand, especially with the entry of new carriers in the past three years.
There are over 2,000 pilots in the country and according to industry sources, they do not come close to meeting demand.
Kenya Airways, which employs most pilots in the country, has been hit hard by the shortage. Speaking during a recent Press briefing, the airline’s managing director, Mr Titus Naikuni, said the airline was playing catch up ahead of expected new plane deliveries.
The airline, he said, needs up to 330 pilots to meet demand but has been able to recruit 301 to date.
One key issue leading to the shortage is the cost of training pilots. It takes up to Sh3 million to train a commercial pilot in the country. Training takes up to two years and is taken in various stages.
“If we had many training schools there would be increased competition and this could bring down the cost,” chief executive officer of Kenya Association of Air Operators, Eutychus Waithaka, said. There are four training schools in the country.
High taxes on the industry also make it expensive to train. “Schools are left with no extra money to subsidise the fees and the sector does not benefit from the industrial training levy, that is why many pilots are training abroad,” Mr Waithaka added.
Training in South Africa and the US has become more attractive due to the affordability. Once back in the country the pilot has to undergo tests to convert to a Kenyan license.
Jet link, a local carrier sends its pilots overseas for further training to meet the company’s standards and learn how to operate its aircraft which are mainly sourced from Canada.
Poaching of local staff, especially by Middle East carriers, has also dealt local carriers a blow. The country has been losing its talent to other countries. According to Mr Waithaka the starting salary of a commercial pilot is Sh50,000 excluding allowances.
The shortage is not unique to Kenya. It is currently a global concern as air travel continues to record positive growth. Japan, the US, China, India and countries in the Middle East are tying to deal with the shortage.
A recent report from India stated the industry had made a move to scout for talent abroad, just like China recently did, to meet increased demand for pilots.
Currently, there are over 3,000 pilots in India. Of these, 600 are foreigners, and with over 400 aircraft on order the country will need over 110,000 pilots by 2020.
13/11/07 Wangui Maina/Business Daily Africa, Kenya
Monday, November 12, 2007
Etihad hiring cabin crew worldwide
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates is now recruiting Cabin Crew and Cabin Managers by conducting a worldwide assessment program.
There are about 400 vacancies. The screening process this month at Sydney, Auckland, Brisbane, Kathmandu, Beirut, Abu Dhabi and Prague are already over.
Now the assessment at Delhi is scheduled for 16-18 of this month.
At Cairo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and again at Abu Dhabi the program is scheduled for 18, 19-20, 22 & 24-25 respectively.
To participate, candidates should apply online from
There are about 400 vacancies. The screening process this month at Sydney, Auckland, Brisbane, Kathmandu, Beirut, Abu Dhabi and Prague are already over.
Now the assessment at Delhi is scheduled for 16-18 of this month.
At Cairo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and again at Abu Dhabi the program is scheduled for 18, 19-20, 22 & 24-25 respectively.
To participate, candidates should apply online from