AI sells a pilot dream to youth

New Delhi: The acute shortage of pilots in India could turn out to be a boon for young science and engineering graduates who dream of flying high. Air India has decided to select 150 such students every year after an aptitude test and send them for pilot training to Europe and Australia.
Air India has tied up with banks so that these students get loans of Rs 15-18 lakh required for the training, which the airline would refund if they work for five to six years with the national carrier.
First-class science graduates from physics, chemistry and maths (not biology) streams and engineers are being eyed under this policy. ‘‘For the first batch of 150 students, we have shortlisted 400 graduates. Pilot aptitude, medical and psychometric tests would be conducted to make final selections. They would be sent to three flying schools in Europe and Australia,’’ AI CMD V Thulasidas told TOI. As the tie-ups increase, more students could be inducted for this course every year, he said.
At present, many banks don’t give loans for commercial pilot licence (CPL) training courses. AI will give a guarantee to banks that candidates would repay loans from their salaries on joining the carrier.
23/02/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India