Aviation India: Careers

More than a decade after hitting an air pocket in 1997, the 60-year-old Government Flying School (GFS) at Jakkur is getting back to its prime objective of providing the much-sought pilot training to young aspirants from across the state.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, sports and youth affairs minister Goolihatti Shekhar said, “Preparations are underway and by February the school will start functioning again. We are hopeful of a good response, not only from Bangalore but also from Mysore, Mangalore and North Karnataka.”
The employees of GFS are already at work overhauling mothballed planes. “We have several trainer planes and a few months ago we recruited aircraft engineers and pilot trainers,” the minister said.
“The Centre has said it will provide two planes. We might also receive advanced helicopters for training purposes. Of the school’s three existing aircraft, two are in operational condition while one had an engine-related problem which was rectified in Mumbai recently,” Shekhar said.
To begin with, GFS will offer an 18-month pilot training course at a cost of Rs 15 lakh. “As the objective of the government is to create a corpus of trained pilots, we have decided to impart training at an affordable cost. The cost per flying hour will be between Rs 8,000 and Rs 8,500, and for the entire course around Rs 15 lakh,” Shekhar said.
The minister said preference will be given to aspirants with a science or engineering background.
28/01/10 Niranjan Kaggere/Bangalore Mirror