Rush for copter training at HAL academy

Bangalore: Recession may have set in, but the country’s only DGCA-approved helicopter pilot training centre, the HAL Rotary Wing Academy in Bangalore, is receiving more students than it can train. The number of applications is higher than the ceiling fixed for the Academy during the past year. As a result, the Academy has requested DGCA to permit higher intake of students.
The Academy has so far trained 30 civil students for commercial helicopter pilot’s licence (CHPL) and private helicopter pilot’s licence (PHPL). In September 2008, 14 civil students (12 for CHPL and 2 for PHPL) started their course against a ceiling of eight students, laid down by DGCA for the Academy. In the 2009 batch which begins after February, 22 candidates have registered, compelling the Academy to request DGCA to raise the ceiling to at least 12.
“We are receiving hundreds of queries on e-mail, phone and mobile. We can’t handle so many because of our capacity. If we expand, we can train more. We have to screen applications and take a number we can train well. But we are receiving more applications every year, and expect many more in 2009,” an official said.
Candidates have found ready employment with various helicopter operators in India. There are 50 operators with around 175 pilots, and they are constantly in need of pilots, as there is shortage of qualified pilots and flying instructors, academy officials said.
The Academy has a total of five helicopters — a Schweizer 300C, Schweizer 330SP, two Chetaks and one ALH. One more Schweizer 300C and low-cost flight simulator called Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD) are being added to the fleet.
An Academy official outlines the importance of helicopter training: our country had no civil helicopter pilot’s training school approved by DGCA up to the year 2000.
The Academy has been offering flying training to ab initio candidates at very nominal rates. HAL, in promoting helicopter aviation, has not laid much stress on profit.
* Academy invites applications from candidates for flying training 3-4 months before the previous batch completes. Registration for these sessions can be done any time in advance.
* Course duration is approximately 20 months for Commercial Helicopter Pilots Licence (CHPL) and 9 months for Private Helicopter Pilots Licence (PHPL).
* Open to both girls and boys.
* Candidate should be aged 18 for CHPL, 17 for PHPL.
* As a pre-requisite, students should pass written examinations in Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Technical (aircraft and engines) and Signals subjects, as per the syllabus prescribed by DGCA. The Academy coaches students on these subjects. Passing of ground subjects is necessary before one qualifies for licence by DGCA, besides completion of flying training.
Subsidized charges for flying training from Aug 2008 for pilot trainees: Rs 12,000-14,000 per hour on helicopter, depending on type of helicopter
Fee for proficiency check/ skill test/ conversion range: Rs 30,000-70,000 per hour, depending on type of aircraft.
Training cost in HAL, India is Rs 20 lakh while that in Australia is Rs 26 lakh.
07/01/09 Times of India