Pilots look to get their sums right

New Delhi: It’s back to basics for hundreds of pilots who need a commercial pilot’s licence (CPL) to fly in the Indian skies.
With the aviation sector booming, a large number of pilots are queuing up for “on-demand” examination with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to improve their grades in maths and physics. Under Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules, a minimum of 50% marks in both mathematics and physics at the senior secondary level are need to get a CPL.
Hence, despite having hours of flying experience and valid flying licences from other countries, pilots applying for the CPL are facing problems at the Indian end for want of maths and physics.
These pilots are from the Indian Air Force (IAF) (both serving and retired), people of Indian origin (PIO), non-resident Indians (NRIs), old commercial pilots seeking renewal of licences and students.
The NIOS’s “on-demand” examination programme, gives students an option to reappear in particular papers whenever they want.
19/11/07 Vineeta Pandey/Daily News & Analysis