Training facilities for aviation sector jobs

Everybody connected with the civil aviation sector knows about the projected growth potential as well as the needs in specialised jobs. But except a handful of private educational entrepreneurs, not many airlines or related industry bodies are doing enough about it.
The civil aviation authorities explain that it is now public knowledge that public sector and private airlines in the country need to acquire over 800 new aircraft over the next five to ten years. This will be in addition to the existing fleet with all the airlines, providing for the possible retirement of ageing aircraft. “You can imagine the number of jobs that will come up in just the aviation sector. We will need an estimated 40,000 in cabin crew alone for both fresh employment and replacements. …It is about time that the airlines thought of creating training institutions of the kind that Air India or Indian Airlines did in the past,” argues a former Regional Director of Indian Airlines. He considers at least some of the foreign pilots now flying the private aircraft “far from satisfactory.”
Some of the senior pilots from both public and private sector airlines privately concur with that view, but insist that the dearth of qualified commercial pilots may be staring in the face of many airlines. All of them agree that training and recruiting Indian citizens will be the better option, but it cannot happen overnight.
A couple of airlines have entered into a contract or understanding with institutions to train and recruit hostesses and stewards, but even that may not be enough.
In addition to the established Central Training institution of Indian Airlines in Hyderabad, the flying school in Rae Baereli has acquired a certain standing. A handful of private institutions and colleges have started training programmes for pilots, in collaboration with institutions abroad — at least two of them have tied up with Australian universities or institutes to provide the flying training.
It may be worthwhile and even cost-effective as well as revenue generating for some of the airlines to float a joint venture to train an adequate number of pilots and cabin crew.
In addition, pilots suggest, the State governments must take the initiative to revive and revamp the flying schools that were functional in different centres till a few years ago.
03/09/07 V. JAYANTH/The Hindu