Soon, pilots won't have to go abroad for 'type' rating

New Delhi: Fresh commercial pilot licence (CPL) holders may not need to go abroad for getting the expensive ‘type’ rating to fly different aeroplanes.
Soon, the national carrier is all set to get the “type rating training organisation” (TRTO) certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after which it will be able to use its simulators for training fresh CPL-holder recruits of both Air India and other carriers for planes like Airbus A-320 family, Boeing 737 and the jumbo jet.
Jet Airways is also learnt to be keen on having similar permission for its Boeing-737 simulator in Mumbai, near Powai, where they train pilots for their Boeing fleet. They are also likely to get an approval, given the severe shortage of type rated pilots in India, said sources.
At present, the airlines invest a lot in sending Indian CPL holders abroad for getting type rating. At times, airlines pay Rs 7-18 lakh in foreign exchange for each rating. Having this facility in India would be both cost effective and time saving for the airlines.
13/04/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India