Aviation India: Careers

Mumbai: There may be tremors reverberating through the aviation industry, but one sector seems to be oblivious to the mayhem all around, and that’s aircraft maintenance engineering (AME).
“Yes, the global meltdown has hit the industry, but there are no direct implications to the aircraft maintenance sector. As far as Indian Airlines and Air-India are concerned, there have been no lay-offs, or no talks of salary deduction,” says TK Dhar, president, Air India Aircraft Engineer’s Association.
One source in a private airline states that even though there has been talk of a withdrawal of the Loyalty Bonus (an amount paid to an employee working for the airline for a period of more than 12 months), the maintenance sector has been relatively unscathed.
In fact, according to Dhar, there is a shortage of engineers on the market.
Alves Fernandes, general manager, Air Works India, says, “We deal with the general aviation sector, which includes corporate and business aircraft. As there is a decline in people buying personal aircraft, we are finding it easier to get aircraft maintenance engineers now...”
Ajay Bahadur, of the Bombay Flying School, says, “There is no decrease in the students opting for the [AME] course.
Actually we have noticed an increase. Even our placements are going smoothly. Though the industry has been seeing lay-offs, this sector is still safe.”
Some students, however, can’t help but feel apprehensive as the industry walls begin to develop cracks.
11/11/08 Sugandha Pathak/Daily News & Analysis