Class XII science remains eligibility criterion for pilots
New Delhi: Studying science and maths till Class 12 level is going to remain a must for all those who dream of becoming a pilot, for now at least. The aviation ministry has put on hold a radical proposal to relax this rule and make students who have studied science (physics) and maths till Class 10 eligible to become a pilot.
“In the recent past there have been reports of near misses and some other incidents that caused concern for fliers. Clearly, the aviation ministry did not want to take a step, which although perfectly logical, may have led to accusation of diluting standards and imperilling safety,” said ministry sources. Not surprisingly, this proposal was recently sent to aviation minister Praful Patel who did not clear it and sought further discussions on the issue.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had made the proposal as the basic things a pilot needs to know are part of the science and maths curriculum in Class 10. These include – conversion of different units; basic maths; trigonometry for calculating height and distance; speed of sound and light; differential pressure; torque and retardation. Moreover, increased automation in cockpits of new-generation aircraft have also made pilots’ lives easier.
11/07/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India