Aviation sector beckons when the dream is to fly

Pune: Whether it is the opportunity to visit exotic locations, the salary or the glamour quotient, a career in aviation has always attracted students. Increasing air connectivity has opened up many jobs in the field giving students fresh hope.
The most sought-after job in aviation is that of a pilot which a student who has passed standard XII with physics and mathematics can take up. “After standard XII, the technical requirement is of getting 250 hours of flying under your belt. Whether you get it from India or abroad doesn’t matter. You have to be medically fit and there are exams conducted at various times,” Air India captain Rajendra Dagaonkar said.
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Akademi at Fursatganj in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh is an autonomous body under the ministry of civil aviation that offers courses for students interested in flying.
“You can either join a three-year course in BSc Aviation offered by institutes like IGRUA or go abroad and complete the 250 mandatory flying hours within a year’s time. Then you will have to give various examinations for getting a licence. These exams are conducted by DGCA in India and passing these exams and getting a commercial flying licence is compulsory to get a job as a pilot in any commercial aircraft in India,” Dagaonkar added.
However, students with better financial backing should opt for the programme as the course fee and the ancillary fee together will be up to Rs 35 lakh, another pilot said.
“The job scene is not always as rosy as it looks and is riddled with corruption in recruitment. Sometimes, you have to do type rating for an aircraft which will again cost over 20 lakh or so. I know people who are have been trying for the past 10 years, coughed up over Rs 50 lakh and yet not made it. Hence, before jumping in, financial condition must be kept in mind,” he said.
Another major draw within aviation field is the job of a cabin crew. This too requires has either 10+2 or graduation as the minimum eligibility. “There isn’t actually a need to go to any institute for training to apply for a job as a cabin crew. Air India conducts a written exam followed by group discussion and interview. Other airlines sometimes have interviews. Students of hotel management have an edge over others in this sector,” a cabin crew with over 10 years of experience said.
26/06/18 Ardhra Nair/Times of India