Sunday, November 30, 2008
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Flight school collapse leaves Indian student stranded but hopeful
Lake County: To call Aneesh Mullacheri determined is an understatement. He traveled halfway around the world only to watch his dream of becoming an American commercial pilot became a nightmare. But he hasn't given up.
A six-month time limit on his visa is ticking while he eats and sleeps less than 100 yards from the small aircraft he will fly in Santa Rosa this weekend for the last leg of his private pilot licensing exam. His flight school folded in July, taking the $40,000 he'd paid upfront and leaving him stranded. Solo Flight School in Lakeport is helping him get back in the air with free private pilot training.
"I know something good is going to happen," Mullacheri said, a sparkle in his brown eyes.
In the same breath, Mullacheri acknowledged that flying days are over if he has to go back to India when his visa expires in February. He landed in San Francisco on his 18th birthday, ready to start commercial pilot training at the American School of Aviation in Atwater.
Mullacheri had $400 to his name and nowhere to live when the school declared bankruptcy. He called home for help - but not to his family.
"I didn't want to give my grandfather another heart attack," Mullacheri said.
Solo Flight School Co-owner Nancy Brier and her family took Mullacheri under their collective wing in October when they learned of his plight. The family's already thin budget can only bear the cost of his private pilot license training, which is the first step to a commercial pilot license, which in turn is a stepping-stone to becoming a test pilot and ultimately an astronaut.
"My goal would be to at least help him get his commercial license," Brier said.
She said the money is coming out of her family's personal account, on top of providing transportation, living quarters and personal support. The family felt compelled, she said, not just by his circumstances, but also by his spirit.
Mullacheri said he felt responsible for his grandfather's first heart attack during his eight-month struggle to get his visa and scrape together enough money for the flight school. His grandfather had been his only supporter at home, and had loaned him the money he still needed after selling approximately two acres of farming land he had inherited from his mother for approximately $25,000.
Flight instructor Vernon Childers has walked Mullacheri through almost a month and a half of private pilot lessons, and said he "could use 20 more just like him" who have his determination and work ethic. Childers said Mullacheri passed the oral part of his exam in 30 minutes, a process that can take hours.
To learn more about Mullacheri's circumstances or to help, call the Solo Flight School at 263-9920.
29/11/08 Tiffany Revelle/Lake County Record-Bee, USA
To read the news in full |
PermaLink A six-month time limit on his visa is ticking while he eats and sleeps less than 100 yards from the small aircraft he will fly in Santa Rosa this weekend for the last leg of his private pilot licensing exam. His flight school folded in July, taking the $40,000 he'd paid upfront and leaving him stranded. Solo Flight School in Lakeport is helping him get back in the air with free private pilot training.
"I know something good is going to happen," Mullacheri said, a sparkle in his brown eyes.
In the same breath, Mullacheri acknowledged that flying days are over if he has to go back to India when his visa expires in February. He landed in San Francisco on his 18th birthday, ready to start commercial pilot training at the American School of Aviation in Atwater.
Mullacheri had $400 to his name and nowhere to live when the school declared bankruptcy. He called home for help - but not to his family.
"I didn't want to give my grandfather another heart attack," Mullacheri said.
Solo Flight School Co-owner Nancy Brier and her family took Mullacheri under their collective wing in October when they learned of his plight. The family's already thin budget can only bear the cost of his private pilot license training, which is the first step to a commercial pilot license, which in turn is a stepping-stone to becoming a test pilot and ultimately an astronaut.
"My goal would be to at least help him get his commercial license," Brier said.
She said the money is coming out of her family's personal account, on top of providing transportation, living quarters and personal support. The family felt compelled, she said, not just by his circumstances, but also by his spirit.
Mullacheri said he felt responsible for his grandfather's first heart attack during his eight-month struggle to get his visa and scrape together enough money for the flight school. His grandfather had been his only supporter at home, and had loaned him the money he still needed after selling approximately two acres of farming land he had inherited from his mother for approximately $25,000.
Flight instructor Vernon Childers has walked Mullacheri through almost a month and a half of private pilot lessons, and said he "could use 20 more just like him" who have his determination and work ethic. Childers said Mullacheri passed the oral part of his exam in 30 minutes, a process that can take hours.
To learn more about Mullacheri's circumstances or to help, call the Solo Flight School at 263-9920.
29/11/08 Tiffany Revelle/Lake County Record-Bee, USA
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New Yingling arm to train pilots from abroad
Yingling Aviation has formed a subsidiary called Kansas Aviation and teamed up with Aviation Testing to focus on international flight training.
"We strategically are looking at the international students as an opportunity," said Lynn Nichols, president of Kansas Aviation.
Kansas Aviation provides the facilities and aircraft for training. Dave Tiday, founder of Aviation Testing, does the teaching.
Tiday has been training international students for the past several years. Teaming the companies was a logical progression, Tiday said.
Most of the students come from Europe, he said. But he has recently trained students from Israel and India.
Some want to earn a pilot's license, others want to earn additional ratings. A recent student from Israel came to earn his flight instructor certificate so he can train pilots in his country.
"There's a lot of people from other countries who would like to have the U.S. (pilot's) license," Tiday said.
Sometimes it's because they fly a plane registered in the U.S. Other times, it's because having a U.S. pilot's license gives them more credibility in their own countries, he said.
International students must be fluent in English and meet the entrance requirements to the U.S., Nichols said.
Focusing on international training dovetails with what U.S. manufacturers, including Wichita's Cessna Aircraft, Hawker Beechcraft and Bombardier Aerospace, are seeing as a trend. They are selling more general aviation aircraft internationally.
29/11/08 Molly McMillin/The Wichita Eagle/Kansas.com, USA
To read the news in full |
PermaLink "We strategically are looking at the international students as an opportunity," said Lynn Nichols, president of Kansas Aviation.
Kansas Aviation provides the facilities and aircraft for training. Dave Tiday, founder of Aviation Testing, does the teaching.
Tiday has been training international students for the past several years. Teaming the companies was a logical progression, Tiday said.
Most of the students come from Europe, he said. But he has recently trained students from Israel and India.
Some want to earn a pilot's license, others want to earn additional ratings. A recent student from Israel came to earn his flight instructor certificate so he can train pilots in his country.
"There's a lot of people from other countries who would like to have the U.S. (pilot's) license," Tiday said.
Sometimes it's because they fly a plane registered in the U.S. Other times, it's because having a U.S. pilot's license gives them more credibility in their own countries, he said.
International students must be fluent in English and meet the entrance requirements to the U.S., Nichols said.
Focusing on international training dovetails with what U.S. manufacturers, including Wichita's Cessna Aircraft, Hawker Beechcraft and Bombardier Aerospace, are seeing as a trend. They are selling more general aviation aircraft internationally.
29/11/08 Molly McMillin/The Wichita Eagle/Kansas.com, USA
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Saturday, November 22, 2008
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Eagle Air Academy invites applications for CPL January 2009 batch
Eagle Air Academy Phillippiness, the Flying Training Institution in the country under the Ministry of Civil Aviation Authority of Philippines , has invited applications for admission to CPL and PPL to CPL courses commencing December 2009.
For CPL (Course A), there are 10 seats in all . The duration of course is 6-8 months. Eligibility: 10 + 2 or its equivalent with Physics, Maths & English as main subjects with minimum 50% aggregate marks in Maths & Physics.
Eagle Air says the training would be Very High Quality for issue of CPL from 220 Hrs of Flight Training , 150 hours on single engine Cessna 150/ 152 type aircraft, 30 hours on single engine Cessna 172 type aircraft. With at least 15 hours of Instrument Flight Time, 20 hours on Multi engine aircraft with 5 hrs of actual Night Flying (Piper Seneca/Aztec).
Ground Course Training including audio/visual and computer based training .
Minimum age limit for above the courses is 17 years as on 01 Jan 2009.
Total package cost will be $ 34,950.00 .
Selection procedure consists of Written Test, Viva Test and Interview.
For CPL , the syllabus for written test is notified as follows:
Paper- I: General English, Maths, Physics and Reasoning (10+2 level)
For PPL to CPL :
Paper- I: Aviation Subjects (PPL Level) and Paper- II : Reasoning.
50 % of marks is necessary to qualify in written test .
Application should be submitted in prescribed format that can be downloaded.
For CPL copy of proof of age (10th class certificate), mark sheets of 10th & 12th standard and higher qualifications, if any, caste certificate (for SC/ST) - attested by a Gazetted Officer and three self-attested recent passport size photographs areto be sent along with filled up application form.
Registration Fee of $200.00 (nonrefundable). Indian students may pay in equivalent in Rs. In favour of ASIATIC INTERNATIONAL AVIATION CORP. INDORE Additional requirements must be submitted for applicants who had prior flying experience.
For PPL to CPL, all documents as for course 'A' and Flying hours (attested by CFI) and PPL (attested by Gazetted Officer) too should be sent.
The applications along with all the documents and fee should reach ' The Director, Eagle Air Academy Philippines, ATO AIR AGENCY NO. 02-07, Plaridel Airport, Plaridel Bulacan Philippines.
For Course at CPL and PPL to CPL candidates will have to submit a Class-II Medical Fitness Certificate from a DGCA approved Doctor at the time of joining. For details of Doctors, visit Website.
Before applying, see the detailed original notification here. Email: office@eagleairacademy.com
22/11/08 PRESS RELEASE/Eagle Air Academy
To read the news in full |
PermaLink For CPL (Course A), there are 10 seats in all . The duration of course is 6-8 months. Eligibility: 10 + 2 or its equivalent with Physics, Maths & English as main subjects with minimum 50% aggregate marks in Maths & Physics.
Eagle Air says the training would be Very High Quality for issue of CPL from 220 Hrs of Flight Training , 150 hours on single engine Cessna 150/ 152 type aircraft, 30 hours on single engine Cessna 172 type aircraft. With at least 15 hours of Instrument Flight Time, 20 hours on Multi engine aircraft with 5 hrs of actual Night Flying (Piper Seneca/Aztec).
Ground Course Training including audio/visual and computer based training .
Minimum age limit for above the courses is 17 years as on 01 Jan 2009.
Total package cost will be $ 34,950.00 .
Selection procedure consists of Written Test, Viva Test and Interview.
For CPL , the syllabus for written test is notified as follows:
Paper- I: General English, Maths, Physics and Reasoning (10+2 level)
For PPL to CPL :
Paper- I: Aviation Subjects (PPL Level) and Paper- II : Reasoning.
50 % of marks is necessary to qualify in written test .
Application should be submitted in prescribed format that can be downloaded.
For CPL copy of proof of age (10th class certificate), mark sheets of 10th & 12th standard and higher qualifications, if any, caste certificate (for SC/ST) - attested by a Gazetted Officer and three self-attested recent passport size photographs areto be sent along with filled up application form.
Registration Fee of $200.00 (nonrefundable). Indian students may pay in equivalent in Rs. In favour of ASIATIC INTERNATIONAL AVIATION CORP. INDORE Additional requirements must be submitted for applicants who had prior flying experience.
For PPL to CPL, all documents as for course 'A' and Flying hours (attested by CFI) and PPL (attested by Gazetted Officer) too should be sent.
The applications along with all the documents and fee should reach ' The Director, Eagle Air Academy Philippines, ATO AIR AGENCY NO. 02-07, Plaridel Airport, Plaridel Bulacan Philippines.
For Course at CPL and PPL to CPL candidates will have to submit a Class-II Medical Fitness Certificate from a DGCA approved Doctor at the time of joining. For details of Doctors, visit Website.
Before applying, see the detailed original notification here. Email: office@eagleairacademy.com
22/11/08 PRESS RELEASE/Eagle Air Academy
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Meltdown grounds aspiring pilots' plan to hit pay dirt
Mumbai: Twenty-year-old Akshay Mishra was set to fly high after graduating from an Australian pilot training academy and procuring an Indian
commercial pilot's licence to back it up. But, three months down the line, he is busy preparing to sell ad spots at cricket grounds for the ongoing India-versus-England series.
Aspiring pilot Mishra ended up as a sales representative in an advertising firm after a seemingly endless wait for things to improve. "But I couldn't wait any longer and sit idle at home waiting for times to change,'' the youngster said. "I have been waiting for almost three months to get a call. But I don't expect it any time soon,'' he added.
The sheen of an airline job seems to have faded with many young pilots trying to cope with the "what-to-do-next'' question. Some like Mishra (his name has been changed) are considering alternative career choices but many are going back to books to secure a degree. "I am enjoying my stint in advertising for now. But I will go for a proper degree, which will hold me in good stead in the long run,'' Mishra said.
Many of his friends who have not got a job because of lack of qualifications-most joined pilot-training academies abroad right after Std XII-are now turning to books. The turmoil in the aviation industry seems to have wakened them up to the need for traditional degrees.
But there are others who are now looking forward to specialising in aviation itself. They are looking out for courses like a BSc in aviation offered by Mumbai University. A Delhi-based trainee, who missed his chance to enrol in the current batch because of his Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) licence exam, is waiting for the next batch.
21/10/08 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India
To read the news in full |
PermaLink commercial pilot's licence to back it up. But, three months down the line, he is busy preparing to sell ad spots at cricket grounds for the ongoing India-versus-England series.
Aspiring pilot Mishra ended up as a sales representative in an advertising firm after a seemingly endless wait for things to improve. "But I couldn't wait any longer and sit idle at home waiting for times to change,'' the youngster said. "I have been waiting for almost three months to get a call. But I don't expect it any time soon,'' he added.
The sheen of an airline job seems to have faded with many young pilots trying to cope with the "what-to-do-next'' question. Some like Mishra (his name has been changed) are considering alternative career choices but many are going back to books to secure a degree. "I am enjoying my stint in advertising for now. But I will go for a proper degree, which will hold me in good stead in the long run,'' Mishra said.
Many of his friends who have not got a job because of lack of qualifications-most joined pilot-training academies abroad right after Std XII-are now turning to books. The turmoil in the aviation industry seems to have wakened them up to the need for traditional degrees.
But there are others who are now looking forward to specialising in aviation itself. They are looking out for courses like a BSc in aviation offered by Mumbai University. A Delhi-based trainee, who missed his chance to enrol in the current batch because of his Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) licence exam, is waiting for the next batch.
21/10/08 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India
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Some courses are just not taking off
New Delhi: With the aviation and global financial crisis hitting at the same time, students pursuing MBA and aviation courses are worried. Many see their hard work and money gone to waste. Others are bracing themselves for the coming, at least, 3-4 years.
Aditi Sharma passed out from AHA (Air Hostess Academy) but works at Café Coffee Day (CCD). Asked if it was the aviation meltdown that took her to CCD, she says, “Not exactly. But this looked like a good option.”
Rohit Sharma, another CCD employee, too wanted to become a steward. “But with the aviation sector coming down in such a big way I took up a job with CCD.” He adds in remorse, “At CCD the lowest level employee gets Rs6,000 and the manager Rs9,000. He is now pursuing MBA through correspondence.
Vandita Malhotra, a cabin crew employee with Spice Jet, earns Rs10,000. “I am with the ground staff. I used to get Rs12,000. But it’s now come down to Rs10,000.” So also with Shreya Sharma, a Jet Airways air hostess. “Before the aviation crisis I used to get Rs30,000-35,000 per domestic flight. I now get between Rs15,000-20,000. It has completely changed my lifestyle.”
“After paying so much money on training, I hardly earn enough to make ends meet,” says Rohit.
Training with agencies like AHA and Frankfinn does not come cheap. Samir Walia, vice-president Marketing and Infrastructure Corporation, says Frankfinn charges Rs1,25,000 per student.
A senior executive with AHA said, “Our students opt for hospitality or aviation. Earlier, the ratio was 50:50. But since the aviation crisis, our placements in aviation have dropped 60%. As a result, now 80% students opt for hospitality.”
21/11/08 Eklavya Atray/Daily News & Analysis
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Aditi Sharma passed out from AHA (Air Hostess Academy) but works at Café Coffee Day (CCD). Asked if it was the aviation meltdown that took her to CCD, she says, “Not exactly. But this looked like a good option.”
Rohit Sharma, another CCD employee, too wanted to become a steward. “But with the aviation sector coming down in such a big way I took up a job with CCD.” He adds in remorse, “At CCD the lowest level employee gets Rs6,000 and the manager Rs9,000. He is now pursuing MBA through correspondence.
Vandita Malhotra, a cabin crew employee with Spice Jet, earns Rs10,000. “I am with the ground staff. I used to get Rs12,000. But it’s now come down to Rs10,000.” So also with Shreya Sharma, a Jet Airways air hostess. “Before the aviation crisis I used to get Rs30,000-35,000 per domestic flight. I now get between Rs15,000-20,000. It has completely changed my lifestyle.”
“After paying so much money on training, I hardly earn enough to make ends meet,” says Rohit.
Training with agencies like AHA and Frankfinn does not come cheap. Samir Walia, vice-president Marketing and Infrastructure Corporation, says Frankfinn charges Rs1,25,000 per student.
A senior executive with AHA said, “Our students opt for hospitality or aviation. Earlier, the ratio was 50:50. But since the aviation crisis, our placements in aviation have dropped 60%. As a result, now 80% students opt for hospitality.”
21/11/08 Eklavya Atray/Daily News & Analysis
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
Flying high in a time of recession
Soaring through the skies is the stuff dreams are made of. But for the trainee pilots at the Bombay Flying Club, the skies are filled with ominous clouds, black with looming recession. But, if the young flyers feel an anxiety, they are not letting it show.
"Becoming a pilot has been my dream since I was a child," says Sneha Bhasarkar, pride evident in her voice. Although, according to her, fame and money were motivating factors when she opted to become a pilot, a sense of pride and responsibility also drew her to the profession. It's a plus that she also likes meeting new people and visiting new places, things intrinsic to the job.
Namita Chaurasia and Urmila Salvi are the other two women in Sneha's batch. Namita's family was always supportive of her choice of career, Urmila's, however, not so much. She worked part-time during her college and collected money for her pilot training.
Nishant Kadam, another aspiring pilot, comes from a middle-class family and has taken out an education loan so that he may realise his dream of flying.
But once the course is done, and all the exams have been cleared, getting a job in the current scenario might prove a tad difficult.
The fact that airlines in the country are hiring expatriate pilots on large salaries rankles with these youngsters, especially when so many Indian pilots are being sacked, or being forced to take pay cuts.
Flying officer, Chandra Kumar, chief instructor of the Club, remembers a time in the 1990s when there was a huge demand for expatriate pilots, due to the spurt in growth in the aviation industry. "But now," he says, "As the number of Indian pilots is also rising, they should be given a fair chance."
Kumar also feels that the retirement age for pilots, 65, is too high. "Earlier it was 58, then 62, and now, it is set at 65. If the retirement age is set at 58, many upcoming pilots will get a chance to fly," he says.
18/11/08 Vishakha Avachat/Daily News & Analysis
To read the news in full |
PermaLink "Becoming a pilot has been my dream since I was a child," says Sneha Bhasarkar, pride evident in her voice. Although, according to her, fame and money were motivating factors when she opted to become a pilot, a sense of pride and responsibility also drew her to the profession. It's a plus that she also likes meeting new people and visiting new places, things intrinsic to the job.
Namita Chaurasia and Urmila Salvi are the other two women in Sneha's batch. Namita's family was always supportive of her choice of career, Urmila's, however, not so much. She worked part-time during her college and collected money for her pilot training.
Nishant Kadam, another aspiring pilot, comes from a middle-class family and has taken out an education loan so that he may realise his dream of flying.
But once the course is done, and all the exams have been cleared, getting a job in the current scenario might prove a tad difficult.
The fact that airlines in the country are hiring expatriate pilots on large salaries rankles with these youngsters, especially when so many Indian pilots are being sacked, or being forced to take pay cuts.
Flying officer, Chandra Kumar, chief instructor of the Club, remembers a time in the 1990s when there was a huge demand for expatriate pilots, due to the spurt in growth in the aviation industry. "But now," he says, "As the number of Indian pilots is also rising, they should be given a fair chance."
Kumar also feels that the retirement age for pilots, 65, is too high. "Earlier it was 58, then 62, and now, it is set at 65. If the retirement age is set at 58, many upcoming pilots will get a chance to fly," he says.
18/11/08 Vishakha Avachat/Daily News & Analysis
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Kingfisher benches 50 trainee co-pilots
Mumbai: Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines has benched 50 trainee co-pilots asking them to stay at home till further orders. The company has offered them a monthly stipend of Rs 20,000 against their take-home salary of up to Rs 1 lakh.
Kingfisher conveyed the decision after it announced an operational tie-up with Jet Airways to battle rising costs on Tuesday. Both airlines had decided to rationalise routes and cut capacities in both domestic and international routes. Within a day, Jet tried to sack 1,900 employees but had to take them back following a nation-wide protest.
The loss-making airline told these pilots that they would be asked to report for work once the market stabilises which could take as many as 12 months. This decision has put the co-pilots in a fix as most of them had borrowed funds from banks to pay for the commercial pilot licence (CPL) course fees and were planning to repay the loan from their salaries.
The deal, though appears relatively lucrative when compared to the Air-India’s scheme which offers a three-year sabbatical without salary. But it has left employees in the lurch. Frustrated with the decision, the co-pilots have sought a meeting with the Kingfisher authorities on Tuesday to explain their case, said one of the co-pilot. They are also weighing options of complaining against the company to the authorities, he said.
When contacted, the Kingfisher spokesperson denied the move. Kingfisher Airline executive vice-president Hitesh Patel said the entire batch of the co-pilots had been asked to take a salary cut.
18/11/08 Amol Maokar & Mithun Roy/Economic Times
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Kingfisher conveyed the decision after it announced an operational tie-up with Jet Airways to battle rising costs on Tuesday. Both airlines had decided to rationalise routes and cut capacities in both domestic and international routes. Within a day, Jet tried to sack 1,900 employees but had to take them back following a nation-wide protest.
The loss-making airline told these pilots that they would be asked to report for work once the market stabilises which could take as many as 12 months. This decision has put the co-pilots in a fix as most of them had borrowed funds from banks to pay for the commercial pilot licence (CPL) course fees and were planning to repay the loan from their salaries.
The deal, though appears relatively lucrative when compared to the Air-India’s scheme which offers a three-year sabbatical without salary. But it has left employees in the lurch. Frustrated with the decision, the co-pilots have sought a meeting with the Kingfisher authorities on Tuesday to explain their case, said one of the co-pilot. They are also weighing options of complaining against the company to the authorities, he said.
When contacted, the Kingfisher spokesperson denied the move. Kingfisher Airline executive vice-president Hitesh Patel said the entire batch of the co-pilots had been asked to take a salary cut.
18/11/08 Amol Maokar & Mithun Roy/Economic Times
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Fifty and Flying High
Even as the 76-year-old landmark Begumpet airport shut down for commercial operations earlier this year, across the runway there is an institution, which has been so much part of India's aviation history. However, it is a lesser-known landmark and its function still lesser known to the general public.
It's the Rajiv Gandhi Central Training Establishment (CTE), resting firmly on terra firma which has enabled many take wings and continues to do so even after half-a-century. Though in its present avatar it recently celebrated its golden jubilee as the National Aviation Company of India's CTE, it has its genesis as the Link Trainer of the Deccan Airways located in Ronald Ross Institute. After Deccan Airways was nationalised in 1953 giving birth to the Indian Airlines and Air India, it metamorphosed into CTE in 1958.
"The Link Trainer was the forerunner of the simulator," recalls an old-timer.
Starting with the Avro simulator followed by the Boeing simulator, currently, the CTE has one simulator for the Boeing family and another for the Airbus family.
"We are a unique establishment in this part of the world offering the most comprehensive training in flying and flight engineering apart from aircraft engineers, technicians, commercial officers and cabin crew. Thousands of pilots have been trained here. Now we are planning to get a third simulator in a year's time," informed Capt. Ashok Raj, executive director (training and operations). One of the famous names that has been trained here was former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
"Many pilots who have been trained here have joined carriers abroad and they are very highly regarded as they are from the CTE," asserted Capt AV Limaye, general manager (training), CTE.
"I did my conversion training from Boeing 737-200 to Airbus A-320 in Toulouse. But my batchmates and I felt that we hardly learnt anything there as Airbus doesn't have facilities for teaching and it's a self-study method. However, at the CTE we have the old blackboard system with a system instructor and instructors are well-qualified themselves. They are the best and the greatest compared to any institution in the world," recalled Capt Jayant Bhoopal, a senior pilot and former head of CTE.
"The fact is, until Jet Airways came up with its own simulator in Mumbai, the CTE was the only one for simulator training. But then Jet only has a Boeing simulator while the CTE has both and the training is way ahead of anyone," clarified another pilot.
Also, being the only one for Airbus, at one point of time pilots wanting conversion training or even for licence renewal - which has to be done every six months - there was a long queue.
Interestingly, even as the aviation industry has slowed down there seems to be full business for the CTE. "All the simulators operate for almost 20-22 hours a day and at any point of time there are 150 trainee pilots and others in the CTE," pointed out Capt. Raj.
But the biggest and brightest feather in CTE's cap is it being granted recognition as a Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO) a few months ago. Earlier it was the DGCA, which did the type rating. Now, the CTE will do it - albeit overseen by the DGCA. Worldwide it was only the FAA in the US and JAA in Europe which did this.
16/11/08 Satya Naagesh Ayyagary/Times of India
To read the news in full |
PermaLink It's the Rajiv Gandhi Central Training Establishment (CTE), resting firmly on terra firma which has enabled many take wings and continues to do so even after half-a-century. Though in its present avatar it recently celebrated its golden jubilee as the National Aviation Company of India's CTE, it has its genesis as the Link Trainer of the Deccan Airways located in Ronald Ross Institute. After Deccan Airways was nationalised in 1953 giving birth to the Indian Airlines and Air India, it metamorphosed into CTE in 1958.
"The Link Trainer was the forerunner of the simulator," recalls an old-timer.
Starting with the Avro simulator followed by the Boeing simulator, currently, the CTE has one simulator for the Boeing family and another for the Airbus family.
"We are a unique establishment in this part of the world offering the most comprehensive training in flying and flight engineering apart from aircraft engineers, technicians, commercial officers and cabin crew. Thousands of pilots have been trained here. Now we are planning to get a third simulator in a year's time," informed Capt. Ashok Raj, executive director (training and operations). One of the famous names that has been trained here was former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
"Many pilots who have been trained here have joined carriers abroad and they are very highly regarded as they are from the CTE," asserted Capt AV Limaye, general manager (training), CTE.
"I did my conversion training from Boeing 737-200 to Airbus A-320 in Toulouse. But my batchmates and I felt that we hardly learnt anything there as Airbus doesn't have facilities for teaching and it's a self-study method. However, at the CTE we have the old blackboard system with a system instructor and instructors are well-qualified themselves. They are the best and the greatest compared to any institution in the world," recalled Capt Jayant Bhoopal, a senior pilot and former head of CTE.
"The fact is, until Jet Airways came up with its own simulator in Mumbai, the CTE was the only one for simulator training. But then Jet only has a Boeing simulator while the CTE has both and the training is way ahead of anyone," clarified another pilot.
Also, being the only one for Airbus, at one point of time pilots wanting conversion training or even for licence renewal - which has to be done every six months - there was a long queue.
Interestingly, even as the aviation industry has slowed down there seems to be full business for the CTE. "All the simulators operate for almost 20-22 hours a day and at any point of time there are 150 trainee pilots and others in the CTE," pointed out Capt. Raj.
But the biggest and brightest feather in CTE's cap is it being granted recognition as a Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO) a few months ago. Earlier it was the DGCA, which did the type rating. Now, the CTE will do it - albeit overseen by the DGCA. Worldwide it was only the FAA in the US and JAA in Europe which did this.
16/11/08 Satya Naagesh Ayyagary/Times of India
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
ALL aviation news from India: Aviation India Blog
AI on a recruitment drive!
Mumbai: At a time when other airlines in the country are stumbling in their effort to cope with recession, the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) - which runs Air India (AI) and Indian - has started interviewing candidates to fill 547 positions of cabin crew.
The move, besides the industry, has surprised the current cabin crew of the entity as their working hours have been reduced to 40 from the earlier 80 a month. What is more surprising is that the recruitment process comes after AI cut down its flight operations like all the other airlines in order to tide over the turbulent times.
An AI spokesperson said, “The recruitment is being done for Indian, our domestic operations.” However, the cabin crew members say that the move is “weird” as only last month the airline had proposed three to five years of leave without pay for its non-operational staff. “On one hand, they are talking of sending everyone on leave and now they are busy interviewing candidates,” said a member of Air India Cabin Crew Association.
According to the association, if NACIL is recruiting for Indian, then the purpose of the merger of AI and Indian has been defeated. “The two airlines were merged for better utilisation of human resources,” said the association member.
12/11/08 Navita Singh/Daily News & Analysis
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The move, besides the industry, has surprised the current cabin crew of the entity as their working hours have been reduced to 40 from the earlier 80 a month. What is more surprising is that the recruitment process comes after AI cut down its flight operations like all the other airlines in order to tide over the turbulent times.
An AI spokesperson said, “The recruitment is being done for Indian, our domestic operations.” However, the cabin crew members say that the move is “weird” as only last month the airline had proposed three to five years of leave without pay for its non-operational staff. “On one hand, they are talking of sending everyone on leave and now they are busy interviewing candidates,” said a member of Air India Cabin Crew Association.
According to the association, if NACIL is recruiting for Indian, then the purpose of the merger of AI and Indian has been defeated. “The two airlines were merged for better utilisation of human resources,” said the association member.
12/11/08 Navita Singh/Daily News & Analysis
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Tuesday, November 11, 2008
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Flying classes begin at Rajiv Gandhi Academy
Thiruvananthapuram: The flying classes of the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology began at CISF Ground, Chackai here on Monday. Law and Sports Minister M. Vijayakumar inaugurated the classes.
The flying classes form part of the pilot training for the first batch of 25 candidates, including two girls, admitted to the commercial pilot course started at the academy. The student’s pilot licence needed for pilot training was distributed at the function. The students were also issued shoulder flaps for pilots with single golden strip.
The arrival of one more Cessna-172 trainer aircraft with advanced features recently had increased the fleet strength of the academy to three. With the arrival of the new aircraft, the institute has become sufficiently equipped for imparting flight training.
With former chairman and managing director of Air India V. Thulasidas recently taking over as Executive Director, the academy is on an expansion mode. Thulasidas said at the function that the academy was planning to open regional centres at Kochi and Kozhikode.
The academy, which is now functioning from a rented building at Enchakkal, is also planning to set up its own campus with runway facility. At present, the academy is using the runway of the Airport for training.
11/11/08 Express Buzz
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The flying classes form part of the pilot training for the first batch of 25 candidates, including two girls, admitted to the commercial pilot course started at the academy. The student’s pilot licence needed for pilot training was distributed at the function. The students were also issued shoulder flaps for pilots with single golden strip.
The arrival of one more Cessna-172 trainer aircraft with advanced features recently had increased the fleet strength of the academy to three. With the arrival of the new aircraft, the institute has become sufficiently equipped for imparting flight training.
With former chairman and managing director of Air India V. Thulasidas recently taking over as Executive Director, the academy is on an expansion mode. Thulasidas said at the function that the academy was planning to open regional centres at Kochi and Kozhikode.
The academy, which is now functioning from a rented building at Enchakkal, is also planning to set up its own campus with runway facility. At present, the academy is using the runway of the Airport for training.
11/11/08 Express Buzz
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IndiGo beats headwinds, plans to hire more staff
New Delhi: At a time when several domestic airlines are looking to prune their staff strength, the Delhi-based low cost airline, IndiGo, is on the look out for more pilots, cabin attendants, customer service and airport service agents.
“There is no deceleration in our growth plan. You have to take a long-term view, not a 90-day view, of life. We are doing more number of flights now, than a few months ago. We have an aircraft delivery virtually every six weeks for the next few months. So it is only natural that we will need more people,” the newly appointed President, Mr Aditya Ghosh, told Business Line.
The airline, however, refused to specify the number of people it was planning to hire. “It is difficult to quantify the number of people that we need because as we grow, we also enjoy benefits of scale,” Mr Ghosh said. The airline, which started two years ago with a single Airbus A-320 aircraft, currently has a fleet of 19 .
The economic slowdown and decline in passenger numbers have forced several airlines to look at pruning costs including deferring delivery of aircraft, cutting back on routes and laying off staff. IndiGo officials claimed that they have been seeing a healthy growth in passenger numbers and had no plans to defer delivery of any of the 100 Airbus it has ordered.
11/11/08 Ashwini Phadnis/Business Line
To read the news in full |
PermaLink “There is no deceleration in our growth plan. You have to take a long-term view, not a 90-day view, of life. We are doing more number of flights now, than a few months ago. We have an aircraft delivery virtually every six weeks for the next few months. So it is only natural that we will need more people,” the newly appointed President, Mr Aditya Ghosh, told Business Line.
The airline, however, refused to specify the number of people it was planning to hire. “It is difficult to quantify the number of people that we need because as we grow, we also enjoy benefits of scale,” Mr Ghosh said. The airline, which started two years ago with a single Airbus A-320 aircraft, currently has a fleet of 19 .
The economic slowdown and decline in passenger numbers have forced several airlines to look at pruning costs including deferring delivery of aircraft, cutting back on routes and laying off staff. IndiGo officials claimed that they have been seeing a healthy growth in passenger numbers and had no plans to defer delivery of any of the 100 Airbus it has ordered.
11/11/08 Ashwini Phadnis/Business Line
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Engineers buck airline lay-off trend
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
To read the news in full |
PermaLink “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
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Sunday, November 09, 2008
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Jharkhand to set up aviation school
Ranchi: The Jharkhand government Saturday announced setting up of an aviation academy to train pilots in the state. “We pay a hefty amount to other aviation companies to train students from tribal communities. Now the students will be trained here,” Chief Minister Shibu Soren told reporters here.
At present, the state government spends nearly Rs.70 million a year on training tribal students to become pilots.
The academy, with a proposed investment of Rs.5 billion, will initially train a batch of 30 tribal students from the state. As the academy expands, it will admit non-tribal students from across the country and abroad. Soren will lay the foundation stone of the academy in Dumka Nov 10.
State government officials said the institute would charge Rs.3.5 million from international students and Rs.2.5 million from Indian students.
The academy has been named Sona Sobran Rashtriya Udan Academy, after Soren’s father.
08/11/08 Thaindian.com, Thailand
To read the news in full |
PermaLink At present, the state government spends nearly Rs.70 million a year on training tribal students to become pilots.
The academy, with a proposed investment of Rs.5 billion, will initially train a batch of 30 tribal students from the state. As the academy expands, it will admit non-tribal students from across the country and abroad. Soren will lay the foundation stone of the academy in Dumka Nov 10.
State government officials said the institute would charge Rs.3.5 million from international students and Rs.2.5 million from Indian students.
The academy has been named Sona Sobran Rashtriya Udan Academy, after Soren’s father.
08/11/08 Thaindian.com, Thailand
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Pilots make a beeline for Gulf airlines
New Delhi: This brain drain could strike a blow to India's growing aviation sector. Many pilots, including senior commanders with over 13,000 hours of flying, are applying for jobs in Gulf carriers due to job insecurity that's hit almost all the domestic airlines.
The Gulf carriers include Emirates, its low-cost carrier flydubai, Qatar, Ethihad, Air Arabia, Gulf Air and Oman Airlines. Even though flydubai will get its first aircraft only in 2009 and commence operations thereafter, pilots have started applying in droves. Sources say some 50 Jet, 10 Spicejet, 22-30 Jetlite and many pilots from Kingfisher have sent their job applications to the low-cost airline.
Says a private airline pilot who wants to move to flydubai, "Money is not everything. We're insecure about the way airlines are treating us. It's not fair and square here... Abroad, once you sign a contract, it is honoured."
A Kingfisher commander, who has applied in 3-4 Gulf airlines, says, "I was a 737 pilot before I joined Kingfisher. I spent Rs 30 lakh for training on the A-340s in Madrid, but was later told by Kingfisher that it wouldn't be buying these planes and I could join the A-320 fleet. I feel let down. I now have to pay a bank loan of Rs 75,000 every month."
However, Kingfisher's spokesman says, "We had to renew our international expansion plans due to the meltdown. But we're offering these pilots a job on the A-320s and Kingfisher will bear the costs of training. All, except six, have taken it."
There's also dissatisfaction among Indian pilots about expats getting more salaries while they suffer pay cuts. Plus, they can't leave an airline unless a six-month notice is given by them.
The lure of flying the latest planes is also drawing pilots abroad. Says a Jet pilot with over 8,000 flying hours, "If I get chosen, I'll also get a chance to be upgraded to the wide-bodied planes Emirates has."
In fact, Capt Jati Dhillon, V-P operations, Spicejet, says this brain drain is good. "...If expats can come here and fly, why shouldn't Indians fly to the Gulf? Aviation growth is good there. It's time India changed pilot licenses so that they're internationally recognized." Besides, with a glut of co-pilots here, India can afford to let many pilots go, he says.
Emirates, incidentally, has 2,201 pilots, 29 of whom are Indians, says its spokesman. In the last recruitment in July 2008, nine Indians participated.
Says a Spicejet commander who applied in flydubai, "Airlines in India lack clarity in work policies,especially with regard to seniority, future security and financial viability." Salaries are an added attraction. For captains with a minimum of 5,000 flying hours and a minimum 500 hours in command in B737s, flydubai is offering 57,000 dirhams tax free (over Rs 6 lakh); instructors and examiners get another 3,000 dirhams extra. In India, commanders in private airlines make about half that amount.
09/11/08 Shobha John/Times of India
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The Gulf carriers include Emirates, its low-cost carrier flydubai, Qatar, Ethihad, Air Arabia, Gulf Air and Oman Airlines. Even though flydubai will get its first aircraft only in 2009 and commence operations thereafter, pilots have started applying in droves. Sources say some 50 Jet, 10 Spicejet, 22-30 Jetlite and many pilots from Kingfisher have sent their job applications to the low-cost airline.
Says a private airline pilot who wants to move to flydubai, "Money is not everything. We're insecure about the way airlines are treating us. It's not fair and square here... Abroad, once you sign a contract, it is honoured."
A Kingfisher commander, who has applied in 3-4 Gulf airlines, says, "I was a 737 pilot before I joined Kingfisher. I spent Rs 30 lakh for training on the A-340s in Madrid, but was later told by Kingfisher that it wouldn't be buying these planes and I could join the A-320 fleet. I feel let down. I now have to pay a bank loan of Rs 75,000 every month."
However, Kingfisher's spokesman says, "We had to renew our international expansion plans due to the meltdown. But we're offering these pilots a job on the A-320s and Kingfisher will bear the costs of training. All, except six, have taken it."
There's also dissatisfaction among Indian pilots about expats getting more salaries while they suffer pay cuts. Plus, they can't leave an airline unless a six-month notice is given by them.
The lure of flying the latest planes is also drawing pilots abroad. Says a Jet pilot with over 8,000 flying hours, "If I get chosen, I'll also get a chance to be upgraded to the wide-bodied planes Emirates has."
In fact, Capt Jati Dhillon, V-P operations, Spicejet, says this brain drain is good. "...If expats can come here and fly, why shouldn't Indians fly to the Gulf? Aviation growth is good there. It's time India changed pilot licenses so that they're internationally recognized." Besides, with a glut of co-pilots here, India can afford to let many pilots go, he says.
Emirates, incidentally, has 2,201 pilots, 29 of whom are Indians, says its spokesman. In the last recruitment in July 2008, nine Indians participated.
Says a Spicejet commander who applied in flydubai, "Airlines in India lack clarity in work policies,especially with regard to seniority, future security and financial viability." Salaries are an added attraction. For captains with a minimum of 5,000 flying hours and a minimum 500 hours in command in B737s, flydubai is offering 57,000 dirhams tax free (over Rs 6 lakh); instructors and examiners get another 3,000 dirhams extra. In India, commanders in private airlines make about half that amount.
09/11/08 Shobha John/Times of India
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Saturday, November 08, 2008
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Flying Training Institute to come up at Talwandi Sabo
Chandigarh: In a significant development, the Ministry of Defence, Government of India had given a 'No Objection Certificate' for setting up a flying training institute at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district.
Disclosing this here today Chief Minister's Media Advisor Harcharan Bains said that the Punjab government had received in principle approval from the MoD, GoI through a communiqué saying that the Air Headquarters had no objection from aviation security angle for setting up of flying training institute at village Bahman Jassa Singh near Talwandi Sabo. The Ministry of Defence had also stipulated that all local flights would be restricted with in the local flying area of 5 Nautical Miles radius centered round the Airport Reference Point (ARP) at the proposed location and vertically from ground level to 2500' Above the Ground Level.
The NOC was subject to the final approval from other regulatory agencies like Director General Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India.
07/11/08 PunjabNewsline.com
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Disclosing this here today Chief Minister's Media Advisor Harcharan Bains said that the Punjab government had received in principle approval from the MoD, GoI through a communiqué saying that the Air Headquarters had no objection from aviation security angle for setting up of flying training institute at village Bahman Jassa Singh near Talwandi Sabo. The Ministry of Defence had also stipulated that all local flights would be restricted with in the local flying area of 5 Nautical Miles radius centered round the Airport Reference Point (ARP) at the proposed location and vertically from ground level to 2500' Above the Ground Level.
The NOC was subject to the final approval from other regulatory agencies like Director General Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India.
07/11/08 PunjabNewsline.com
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Thursday, November 06, 2008
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Flying dream turns sour for these Dalits
Chennai: For Mahalakshmi (name changed), a poor Dalit girl from a village in Madurai district, flying in an aircraft was once a long-cherished dream.
Today, the very drone of a plane gives her nightmares.
Mahalakshmi, the daughter of a farm worker, was among the first batch of 96 Adi Dravidar girls who underwent one-year air hostess training in a leading academy in Chennai as part of a government scheme launched in 2006.
The scheme aimed at imparting free training to 100 Dalit girls every year at a total expenditure of Rs 1 crore. With their rural background and poor communication skills working to their disadvantage in the race for the glamourous job, the prevailing crisis in the aviation industry has only compounded their woes. While a handful of them managed to land as ground staff in private airlines, the others have gone back home with shattered dreams.
While some have got married, the others have decided to either continue their studies or settle for jobs with lesser salary.
".. As the scheme drew much media publicity, my photo was featured in several magazines and my friends and relatives were confident that I would become an air hostess someday. But despite attending quite a number of interviews, I couldn't get job with any airline and I am tired of giving explanations to people," Mahalakshmi rues.
Of course, the Tamil Nadu government had implemented the scheme with good intentions. But, it should have given a thought to the practicalities which would have spared us from the embarrassment, she added. Those who have joined as ground staff are not happy either.
Dhanalakshmi, who works for the Emirates Airlines, says she is not a direct employee of the airlines and is working through an agent company. ".. I am drawing only Rs 6,500 per month," she says.
K C S Kannan, senior manager, Air Hostess Academy Pvt Ltd, says the present problem is a temporary phenomenon.
06/11/08 Ajitha Karthikeyan/Times of India
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Today, the very drone of a plane gives her nightmares.
Mahalakshmi, the daughter of a farm worker, was among the first batch of 96 Adi Dravidar girls who underwent one-year air hostess training in a leading academy in Chennai as part of a government scheme launched in 2006.
The scheme aimed at imparting free training to 100 Dalit girls every year at a total expenditure of Rs 1 crore. With their rural background and poor communication skills working to their disadvantage in the race for the glamourous job, the prevailing crisis in the aviation industry has only compounded their woes. While a handful of them managed to land as ground staff in private airlines, the others have gone back home with shattered dreams.
While some have got married, the others have decided to either continue their studies or settle for jobs with lesser salary.
".. As the scheme drew much media publicity, my photo was featured in several magazines and my friends and relatives were confident that I would become an air hostess someday. But despite attending quite a number of interviews, I couldn't get job with any airline and I am tired of giving explanations to people," Mahalakshmi rues.
Of course, the Tamil Nadu government had implemented the scheme with good intentions. But, it should have given a thought to the practicalities which would have spared us from the embarrassment, she added. Those who have joined as ground staff are not happy either.
Dhanalakshmi, who works for the Emirates Airlines, says she is not a direct employee of the airlines and is working through an agent company. ".. I am drawing only Rs 6,500 per month," she says.
K C S Kannan, senior manager, Air Hostess Academy Pvt Ltd, says the present problem is a temporary phenomenon.
06/11/08 Ajitha Karthikeyan/Times of India
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Airlines fear job losses for 8,000 ground staff
Mumbai: Airline companies under the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) plan to make a presentation to the civil aviation ministry saying they will be forced to axe 8,000 employees if the government implements the new ground handling policy from January 1, 2009. About 29 per cent of the 28,000-odd employees working in the private carriers are involved in ground handling.
Retrenching employees in an industry reeling under losses has become a sticky issue after vehement opposition from political parties forced Jet Airways to recall 800 employees who were given pink slips a few weeks ago.
The new ground-handling policy does not allow private carriers, which currently undertake their own ground handling, to undertake the services from next year. Only Air India, airport operators (like GMR) and independent ground handling companies will be allowed to do so.
According to industry sources, Jet Airways has at least 4,000 ground handling jobs on the line. For SpiceJet and IndiGo, 1,800 to 2,000 jobs are likely to be impacted between them and GoAir has some 350 employees for ground-handling service. The rest of the employees work for international carriers, some of whom undertake their own ground-handling.
06/11/08 Manisha Singhal/Business Standard
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Retrenching employees in an industry reeling under losses has become a sticky issue after vehement opposition from political parties forced Jet Airways to recall 800 employees who were given pink slips a few weeks ago.
The new ground-handling policy does not allow private carriers, which currently undertake their own ground handling, to undertake the services from next year. Only Air India, airport operators (like GMR) and independent ground handling companies will be allowed to do so.
According to industry sources, Jet Airways has at least 4,000 ground handling jobs on the line. For SpiceJet and IndiGo, 1,800 to 2,000 jobs are likely to be impacted between them and GoAir has some 350 employees for ground-handling service. The rest of the employees work for international carriers, some of whom undertake their own ground-handling.
06/11/08 Manisha Singhal/Business Standard
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Jet Airways may lay off 100 expat pilots
Mumbai: Private carrier Jet Airways is expected to lay off 100 of its 240 expatriate pilots, airline sources said. As a first step, the private carrier has decided not to renew the service contracts of 27 pilots.
The move comes soon after the airline had to succumb to the political pressure to withdraw its retrenched cabin crew last month. Jet has been looking at cutting costs and right-sizing the organisation after it rationalised its fleet and cut routes, following the recent slowdown in the aviation industry. Expatriate salaries are at least 40 per cent higher than those of their Indian counterparts as a thumb rule in the industry. There has been discontent among Jet’s Indian pilots after the airline reduced their salaries.
Jet confirmed that notices have been served on some of the expatriate pilots. The pilots, whose service contracts have been terminated, are from the classic fleet – the Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline has grounded five of these aircraft.
Jet is also likely to do away with about 20 expatriate employees in the maintenance and engineering division.
The exact reduction in the number of expatriate employees will be clear once the airline decides on the fate of its wide-body aircraft – the Boeing 777-300ER.
06/11/08 Manisha Singhal/Business Standard
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The move comes soon after the airline had to succumb to the political pressure to withdraw its retrenched cabin crew last month. Jet has been looking at cutting costs and right-sizing the organisation after it rationalised its fleet and cut routes, following the recent slowdown in the aviation industry. Expatriate salaries are at least 40 per cent higher than those of their Indian counterparts as a thumb rule in the industry. There has been discontent among Jet’s Indian pilots after the airline reduced their salaries.
Jet confirmed that notices have been served on some of the expatriate pilots. The pilots, whose service contracts have been terminated, are from the classic fleet – the Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline has grounded five of these aircraft.
Jet is also likely to do away with about 20 expatriate employees in the maintenance and engineering division.
The exact reduction in the number of expatriate employees will be clear once the airline decides on the fate of its wide-body aircraft – the Boeing 777-300ER.
06/11/08 Manisha Singhal/Business Standard
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Wednesday, November 05, 2008
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Thiruvananthapuram Aviation Academy: Planning a long-haul flight
Thiruvananthapuram: The Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology (RGAAT) in the city, which has been on a revival path, is gearing up to spread its wings to new horizons.
Confined only to pilot training so far, the Academy now plans to commence degree and diploma courses in aircraft maintenance and short-term course for cabin crew and flight dispatcher, as well as to open regional centres in other parts of the State.
Former chairman and managing director of Air India V.Thulasidas, who had recently taken over as Executive Director of the Academy, also plans to have a separate campus with runway facility, in the long run.
The arrival of one more Cessna-172 trainer aircraft with advanced features, a couple of days ago, has increased the fleet strength of the institute to three. The new aircraft that costs more than Rs 1 crore was supplied by the Aero Club of India on a rent-basis.
‘’ The first batch of 27 candidates, admitted after the institute resumed its functioning a few months ago, would start flying-training shortly,’’ Thulasidas told ‘this website's newspaper’.
‘’We plan to start aircraft maintenance course by utilising the facilities available at the Nedumbasserry International Airport. A proposal in this regard has been submitted to the Cochin International Airport Limited. Once it is through, efforts would be made to get affiliation of any University to these courses, said Thulasidas.
Cabin Crew and Flight Dispatcher training would also be commenced soon, he said, adding that the present slowdown in the aviation sector would only be a short-time phenomenon. ‘’The aviation industry would definitely continue to grow and has a huge job potential, ‘’ said the former head of the national carrier.
04/11/08 Express Buzz
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Confined only to pilot training so far, the Academy now plans to commence degree and diploma courses in aircraft maintenance and short-term course for cabin crew and flight dispatcher, as well as to open regional centres in other parts of the State.
Former chairman and managing director of Air India V.Thulasidas, who had recently taken over as Executive Director of the Academy, also plans to have a separate campus with runway facility, in the long run.
The arrival of one more Cessna-172 trainer aircraft with advanced features, a couple of days ago, has increased the fleet strength of the institute to three. The new aircraft that costs more than Rs 1 crore was supplied by the Aero Club of India on a rent-basis.
‘’ The first batch of 27 candidates, admitted after the institute resumed its functioning a few months ago, would start flying-training shortly,’’ Thulasidas told ‘this website's newspaper’.
‘’We plan to start aircraft maintenance course by utilising the facilities available at the Nedumbasserry International Airport. A proposal in this regard has been submitted to the Cochin International Airport Limited. Once it is through, efforts would be made to get affiliation of any University to these courses, said Thulasidas.
Cabin Crew and Flight Dispatcher training would also be commenced soon, he said, adding that the present slowdown in the aviation sector would only be a short-time phenomenon. ‘’The aviation industry would definitely continue to grow and has a huge job potential, ‘’ said the former head of the national carrier.
04/11/08 Express Buzz
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Aero-sports setting up its base in Kerala
Attention prospective pilots and Indonauts. Here is good news.Aero-sports.US, a US-based aero-modelling company run by a Malayali, is setting up its base in the State to fit wings to your dreams.
The company, through its 14 franchisees across the State, intends to provide Control/Line (C/L) and Radio-Controlled aeromodelling programmes for students of 10th standard to college classes. For this purpose, Aero-sports.US has set up a modern, state-of-the-art model airplane design and assembly plant at Valiyavila, near Thirumala, in Thiruvananthapuram.
``Aero-sports.US will remain as the mother organisation of all the franchisees. We will not provide training or supply equipment directly to the public. Instead, we will engage 14 franchisees across the State for a modest franchisee fee and provide them with model airplanes, accessories, spares, CDs, technical support and so on,’’ said Richard Menon, a native of Thrissur, who is the CEO of Aero-sports.US.
``These franchisees will conduct control line (C/L) aeromodelling classes in schools/colleges, teach individuals to build and fly C/L Aeromodels as a hobby and sport, organise and conduct a Model Aviation Flying Club and sell our various products,’’ Richard said.
The company will also give training to the people whom the franchisees select as the trainers. ``At first, each franchise will appoint five men as their trainers and we would give them proper training in aeromodelling,’’ said Richard, who is also the International Business Manager of the aeromodelling magazine ‘Aeromodelling Today’, published by the Delhi Institute of Aeromodelling.
``Through our project, the students will get a greater understanding of what really an aircraft is like. With the models, they can touch, feel and see what aeroplanes are and by making them, the students can learn about construction of these complex magnificent flying machines,’’ Richard said.
According to Richard, the 14 franchisees of the company will start functioning within 45 days. And the construction of control line airplanes is taking place in its factory at Thirumala.
04/11/08 Athul Lal A.G./Express Buzz
To read the news in full |
PermaLink The company, through its 14 franchisees across the State, intends to provide Control/Line (C/L) and Radio-Controlled aeromodelling programmes for students of 10th standard to college classes. For this purpose, Aero-sports.US has set up a modern, state-of-the-art model airplane design and assembly plant at Valiyavila, near Thirumala, in Thiruvananthapuram.
``Aero-sports.US will remain as the mother organisation of all the franchisees. We will not provide training or supply equipment directly to the public. Instead, we will engage 14 franchisees across the State for a modest franchisee fee and provide them with model airplanes, accessories, spares, CDs, technical support and so on,’’ said Richard Menon, a native of Thrissur, who is the CEO of Aero-sports.US.
``These franchisees will conduct control line (C/L) aeromodelling classes in schools/colleges, teach individuals to build and fly C/L Aeromodels as a hobby and sport, organise and conduct a Model Aviation Flying Club and sell our various products,’’ Richard said.
The company will also give training to the people whom the franchisees select as the trainers. ``At first, each franchise will appoint five men as their trainers and we would give them proper training in aeromodelling,’’ said Richard, who is also the International Business Manager of the aeromodelling magazine ‘Aeromodelling Today’, published by the Delhi Institute of Aeromodelling.
``Through our project, the students will get a greater understanding of what really an aircraft is like. With the models, they can touch, feel and see what aeroplanes are and by making them, the students can learn about construction of these complex magnificent flying machines,’’ Richard said.
According to Richard, the 14 franchisees of the company will start functioning within 45 days. And the construction of control line airplanes is taking place in its factory at Thirumala.
04/11/08 Athul Lal A.G./Express Buzz
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CAE Goes With Diamond Aircraft For Ab-initio Program
CAE has selected Diamond Aircraft as its provider of choice for flight training airplanes and Diamond-specific flight training devices in order to support the deployment of the CAE Global Academy. CAE will operate DA40 and DA42 aircraft for their ab-initio flight training schools.
As a first order, CAE has purchased 22 aircraft and four type-specific flight training devices, which will be deployed in India. The CAE Global Academy is a network of flight schools providing ab-initio training, in strategic locations around the world, to meet the growing need for professional pilots.
"The CAE Global Academy leverages CAE's unique experience in professional pilot training, as well as our partners' in-depth local expertise, to offer aspiring professional pilots high quality and efficient ab-initio training," said Jeff Roberts, CAE's Group President, Innovation and Training and Services. "Diamond has demonstrated its capability and clear dedication to providing a full range of modern fuel-efficient aircraft and complementary training devices for professional flight training."
"We are honored that CAE, clearly one of the world's leading forces in professional pilot training, has selected Diamond Aircraft for this prestigious and important program. CAE's long-term vision recognizes the need to develop future pilot generations from the ground up," said Peter Maurer, President of Diamond Aircraft Industries.
01/11/08 Aero-News Network, USA
To read the news in full |
PermaLink As a first order, CAE has purchased 22 aircraft and four type-specific flight training devices, which will be deployed in India. The CAE Global Academy is a network of flight schools providing ab-initio training, in strategic locations around the world, to meet the growing need for professional pilots.
"The CAE Global Academy leverages CAE's unique experience in professional pilot training, as well as our partners' in-depth local expertise, to offer aspiring professional pilots high quality and efficient ab-initio training," said Jeff Roberts, CAE's Group President, Innovation and Training and Services. "Diamond has demonstrated its capability and clear dedication to providing a full range of modern fuel-efficient aircraft and complementary training devices for professional flight training."
"We are honored that CAE, clearly one of the world's leading forces in professional pilot training, has selected Diamond Aircraft for this prestigious and important program. CAE's long-term vision recognizes the need to develop future pilot generations from the ground up," said Peter Maurer, President of Diamond Aircraft Industries.
01/11/08 Aero-News Network, USA
The place for general discussion, feedback and questions Readers Forum
C 90, B 200 Type-Rating & ATPL Training programs launched
An Indore based New Flight Services Pilot Training Academy announced flight training courses of ATPL, BEECHCRAFT C90 and BEECHCRAFT B200 for pilots in collaboration with Aviation Link Asia Training Center of in Philippines.
Course Fees
ATPL USD $49,500 approx.
B200 USD $49,500 approx.
C90 USD $41,000 approx.
Duration of each course is 02-03 months.
Additional equipment familiarization for each course is also provided.
New Flight services also provide training for CPL program & Jet Aircraft [ B 737 & A 320 ] Training in Berlin.
Admissions are currently open from November Second week. Armed with the latest fleet, comprehensive curriculum and renowned faculty consisting of aviation specialist with global exposure, NFS offers comprehensive training for professional pilots.
Candidates interested in applying for the courses can visit the website or email at aviationlink@asia.com. For more details contact admission office NEW FLIGHT SERVICES, A# 108, Ambikapuri Extn, AirPort Road Indore 452 005 INDIA
01/11/08 PRESS RELEASE/New Flight Services
To read the news in full |
PermaLink Course Fees
ATPL USD $49,500 approx.
B200 USD $49,500 approx.
C90 USD $41,000 approx.
Duration of each course is 02-03 months.
Additional equipment familiarization for each course is also provided.
New Flight services also provide training for CPL program & Jet Aircraft [ B 737 & A 320 ] Training in Berlin.
Admissions are currently open from November Second week. Armed with the latest fleet, comprehensive curriculum and renowned faculty consisting of aviation specialist with global exposure, NFS offers comprehensive training for professional pilots.
Candidates interested in applying for the courses can visit the website or email at aviationlink@asia.com. For more details contact admission office NEW FLIGHT SERVICES, A# 108, Ambikapuri Extn, AirPort Road Indore 452 005 INDIA
01/11/08 PRESS RELEASE/New Flight Services
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