Indian Air Force
Ever since planes started
flying in the skies, aviation has been a
glamorous vocation sought after by many,
but achieved by only a few selected
persons. The thrill of being on the
controls of an aircraft
flying at hundreds of kilometres per
hour, zooming up with not even the sky as
the limit, and reaching far away
destinations within hours, cannot be
equaled by any other feeling. The only
way a person can become a pilot or an
aeronautical engineer without spending
lakhs of rupees, is by joining the Indian
Air Force (This option has already been
covered in this column three weeks ago).
For others, it is a hard and expensive
struggle, but very rewarding in terms of
the pure thrill of enjoying yourself and
being paid for it. Aeronautical
engineering is a regular four year
professional course offered by a number
of universities in the country.
ENTRY:
Many civil pilot training
schools offer Private Pilot License (PPL)
which can generally be done in about 9
months, and the advanced Commercial Pilot
License (CPL) which takes about two to
three years, since one needs to complete
the required number of flying hours.
Barring a few scholarships in government
flying schools, the training is very
expensive, costing up to 3-5 lakhs.
Abroad the same training can be done in a
much shorter time, but the cost would be
three to five times higher. Adto those
who have completed their 10+2 with
Physics and Maths. Abroad one can get
admission after 11th.
APTITUDE:
To become a pilot one needs to
be good in calculations, have a sharp
concentration and quick decision making
ability. Physical fitness and stamina are
equally important, and good eyesight is
essential. It helps to have a sense of
adventure and a desire to travel,
including keeping odd hours. Aeronautical
engineers require the same aptitude as in
any other field of engineering viz. good
mathe-logical ability, capacity to work
with hands, familiarity with machines and
computers, etc.
THE
FUTURE:
Jobs at the entry level are
difficult, particularly for those
qualified from Indian schools which do
not impart multi-engine aircraft
training. Salaries are high once a person
gets a job, and although there are really
no promotions beyond commander, one can
keep upgrading oneself
to latest aircraft, and earn better.
There is a mandatory medical check up
every six months, and any health problem
can ground a pilot. Prospects are much
better in the developed countries. The
prospects for aeronautical engineers in
India is not very wide, as the employers
are mainly just a few public sector
undertakings like HAL, NAL etc.
Opportunities are comparatively better in
the West, but only for those who have
learnt the latest technology.
SOME
ADDRESSES:
For pilot training:
Government Flying Training School, Jakkur
Airport, Bellary Road Bangalore
560064
BATS Aviation Academy, 61 Cambridge Rd,
Ulsoor,Bangalore 560008
Taneja Aerospace, 305, Mota Chambers, 9
Cunningham Road, Bangalore 560052
For aeronautical engineering:
Indian Institute of Technology, P.O. IIT
Powai, Mumbai 400076 (through Joint
entrance exam (JEE)
for all IITs
Institute of Aeronautical Engineering,
Ring Road, HRBR Layout, Bangalore 560084
Madras Institute of Technology, Anna
University, Chennai
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