Instructor shortage: Flying clubs get innovative

New Delhi: With more airlines starting up and some 3,000 pilots needed over the next five years, instructors in flying clubs are leaving by the droves for them.
There were some 70 instructors in 2003; last year there were just about 30, say experts. But some flying clubs are trying to stem this trend by offering fully-funded programmes to new students.
Yash Air, an Indore-based flying school, for example, plans to add 12 more planes to its present 13. In order to generate instructors from within, the club is offering free training to students on single and multi-engines.
It normally costs Rs 25 lakh. In return, the student signs a five-year bond.
“During that time, they fly as instructors. This rating is got after flying some 210 hours, 100 on command. We can also lease them to other flying clubs and charter operators. We give them a stipend of up to Rs 50,000 monthly. At the end of five years, they would’ve accumulated 3,000-4,000 hours in turboprops and can join airlines,”says Capt Yashraj Tongia, Yash Air.
This plan, started in 2006, has 10 cadets presently. “We plan to induct 10 more every year,”he says.
But despite good remuneration, it’s not easy to retain them, Tongia admits. General instructors who’re not part of the above scheme are paid Rs 1.5-2 lakh, while senior ones get Rs 3.5-5 lakh.
Yet, most prefer to join airlines. “An instructor’s job in a club is tougher than flying in an airline. Our planes are smaller, unlike big jets of airlines. So there’s no auto-pilot, the cabins are mostly unpressurised and there’s a lot of teaching to do,”says Tongia.
17/02/07 Shobha John/Times of India