Students, aviation institutes still dare to fly

Ahmedabad: Jet Airways might have taken back its retrenched employees but the move has undoubtedly left scars on the aviation industry. Aviation schools across the country are now pursuing a damage-control exercise. They are going all out to assure students that the worst is over.
Take the case of Electrotherm-promoted Ahmedabad Aviation & Aeronautics Ltd (AAA). The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved institute offers courses in pilot’s training, aviation management, cabin crew and aircraft maintenance engineering. AAA offers flying training at its hanger at S V Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad and Mehsana airfield.
Dhiraj Agarwal, centre head of Avalon Aviation Academy, corroborates: “..we believe the worst has passed, and in just six months’ time the turmoil will give way for the industry to pick up. There are international airlines Emirates and Qatar Airways which are doing well even in these times and have shown interest in hiring our students. Even the Indian government would take some steps as it cannot afford to let such a huge industry reel under a bad phase for long. So, unless some huge recession happens, our industry looks like it will grow by some 5-6 per cent in a year’s time and the future of those pursuing a career in aviation is going to be bright again.”
Students, too, remain sanguine. With fees per student ranging between Rs 45,000 and Rs 1,00,000 for a course duration of an average six months to a year, the students are finding themselves in a fix after borrowing money from banks to pursue the vocation. But the depressing scenario has not deterred the students from pursuing the course. Instead they believe there are countless opportunities available in the field.
And if the situation seems bad for the students pursuing various courses in the field of aviation, it should seem worse for those who have already completed their course. Instead, freshers in the industry are still upbeat and feel the scenario will get better in the near future.
“.. It is an enormous industry which will survive, thanks to the many opportunities in parallel fields like travel, tourism and hospitality. Moreover, we believe the scenario in the aviation industry itself will change for better sooner or later,” says a student who has just finished her course in BTEC (HNC) in aviation, hospitality and travel management from Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training, Mumbai.
21/10/08 Chitra Unnithan & Vinay Umarji/Business Standard