Airline woes ground pilot dreams

Tumbling air traffic and aircraft utilisation have reduced demand for pilots, especially those holding commercial pilot licences (CPL), grounding many a dream.
Twenty-nine-year-old Pan-kaj Desai (name changed) was banking on the aviation boom to give wing to his dreams of becoming a pilot. He spent nearly Rs 20 lakh and has a letter of intent (to hire) from budget carrier SpiceJet.
Desai is still hunting for a job. He completed pilot training from The Professional Flight Centre based in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, in December last year, but his lack of experience is now coming in the way of securing a job with an airline.
Demand was outstripping supply last year. “Every CPL holder coming out of academies was being absorbed by the industry,” said an industry insider. Desai is not alone. At least 100 other cadets are undergoing SpiceJet’s pilot training with no hope of landing a job.
Full-service carrier Kingfisher Airlines’ pilot programme has also left an equal number in the lurch as passengers declined.
“As the (plane) utilisation falls, there is a corresponding dip in the demand for pilots,” he reasoned, but added that SpiceJet has not laid off any pilot. A Kingfisher spokesperson dittoed.
“We believe this is a short-term phenomenon. That is why we are retaining them,” Dhillon said.
01/09/08 Praveena Sharma/DNA MONEY/Sify