Kingfisher fiasco sobers childhood dream of becoming a pilot.

Becoming a pilot may be the most common childhood fantasy but the horror stories tumbling out of Indian airlines in past few years — led by the Kingfisher disaster — seems to be now luring fewer youths to the skies now. There has been a steady decline in the number of commercial pilot licences (CPL) issued by the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) in past four years.

While in 2011, DGCA issued 823 CPLs, the number dropped to 654 and 591 in the next two years. From January to June this year, only 383 CPLs have been issued, minister of state for civil aviation G M Siddeshwara told Parliament on Monday.

Aviation industry insiders say India has hundreds of unemployed trainee pilots, many of them CPL holders. As a result, the country has excess co-pilots, while there is a shortage of commanders.

There has been a long-standing demand from the unemployed CPL holders that Indian carriers must phase out all expat pilots they have on their rolls. In a parliamentary reply, the aviation ministry said 277 expat pilots were working with schedule and non-schedule airlines here as on March 31, 2014. Jet and IndiGo with 121 and 45 expats, respectively, led the list.

11 Tips for Pilot or Cabin Crew Interview

Tips for Pilot or Cabin Crew Interview : Flying as a pilot/cabin crew is very exciting and glamorous.Cabin crew or pilot job is an interesting and challenging Job. Its exciting as you get paid for watching the world.
Just want to share some tips which will be very useful for cracking any pilot or cabin crew interview :

Grooming Standards : Grooming Standards for Ladies Hair: Should be neat, well styled and should appear professional

Hair should be trimmed regularly, neatly combed and in place always.
Shoulder length hair should be neatly pinned to keep away from face.
Hair longer than shoulder length should be cut straight evenly and tied at the nape of the neck.
The bun must be secured at the back of the head or slightly above the nape with a black net.
Do not use colored / plastic bands.
Hair should be clean, non- greasy, free of oil, color and streaking.
Permed and curly hair should be kept neat and restrained.Finger nails: Well maintained and clean. This is a very important aspect in pilot or Cabin Crew Interview.
Neatly cut , shaped and clean
Excessively long nails are not allowed.
Use only light and neutral color of nail polish
Nail polish should cover entire nail, never chipped

AIR INDIA MAY FACE A MAJOR PILOT SHORTAGE BY 2015

National carrier Air India (AI) may face a major shortage of pilots next year.

According to an internal analysis done by the airline, AI would need about 260 pilots by October 2015.


The airline would need about 185 co-pilots for its Airbus A320 fleet and about 75 pilots for its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet by 2015 winter schedule, the analysis said.

“There will be a need to hire co-pilots very soon,” a senior AI official said.

The state-owned airline has already transferred about 50 Boeing 777 (B777) pilots to its low-cost international arm — Air India Express.

Air India Express has a fleet of Boeing 737 (B737) aircraft and conversion of pilots from B777 to B737 can be done easily.

“Moving B777 pilots to B737 is a good move. B777 co-pilots, who should have become captains long back, will get command on B737 aircraft,” said Rajji Rai, an aviation industry veteran.

However, when contacted, an AI spokesperson said the airline had enough pilots and there was no question of any shortage in the near future.

“We have about 1,600 pilots and there is no shortage in either narrow or wide-body fleets. As far as the Boeing 787 is concerned, we have a training programme so that adequate pilots are available as new planes join the fleet,” he said

PILOTS JOSTLE FOR JOBS AS 4,000 APPLY FOR 250 SLOTS

Intensifying competition in the Indian airspace between incumbents and new carriers has led to an immediate demand for 500 pilots, according to multiple airline officials. However, it would appear there is enough supply to meet the demand.

Market leader IndiGo is looking for 250 pilots of which over 100 are Delhi-based positions, a person familiar with IndiGo’s plans said.

Indigo has advertised vacancies on billboards in Mumbai and Delhi and a spokesman for the airline said it received 4,000 applications on the first day. “AirAsia, Vistara and Spicejet need around 60-70 additional pilots each,” this person said.

Airline pilot training. Wouldn’t it be a good idea if…

Wouldn’t it be a good idea if the airline and training industries all over the world were to agree on a common set of pilot training, instruction and evaluation standards that reflects the demands on pilots in today’s flying environment?

No-one, anywhere, says it’s a great idea to have a system that trains airline pilots to different criteria according to their nationality. But that’s what we’ve got.

ICAO, IATA, IFALPA, the Royal Aeronautical Society and the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations all want common standards. They linked up to form the International Pilot Training Consortium several years ago and have worked to identify and define universal pilot training needs and methodologies based on the output standard – so-called competency-based training. The IPTC working groups have published their findings and ICAO has enshrined many of them in its PANS-Training document 9868, which is a constant work in progress.

So what’s stopping progress toward common – and modernised – training standards?

Industry presses on with pilot training mandate

Faced with being wound up following many years of work yielding few visible results, the International Pilot Training Consortium (IPTC) has had its mandate renewed for a further three years, subject to approval by its member organisations. This was agreed at the 23-25 September International Flight Crew Training Conference at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s (RAeS) headquarters in London.

The IPTC mandate is “to improve safety, quality and efficiency of commercial aviation by developing international agreement on a common set of pilot training, instruction and evaluation standards and processes”. But having worked with ICAO to create a series of updated training standards, these recommendations are being comprehensively ignored in almost all ICAO signatory states.

How to become a commercial airline pilot in 2014

An introduction to being a commercial airline pilot

For many people, flying, and particularly the job of an airline pilot has always had a certain degree of glamour and excitement attributed to it, you just need to see the recent series of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic adverts for an example of that. The opportunity to operate a state-of-art multi million pound machine seven miles up at five hundred miles per hour with a few hundred people on board to far away shores is very appealing, but for a significant number of people, it is career many aspire to but few achieve.​

Airline Pilot Training - What your commercial flight training options are . . .​​

Airline Pilot Training Options
Once you have decided to commit to airline pilot training, choosing the right training for your individual circumstances is key. There are two potential routes to obtaining a frozen ATPL named integrated and modular. Unfortunately since the terrorist attacks of September the eleventh 2001, there have been very few fully sponsored flight training schemes accessible. There are still a few available outside of the UK, with Cathy Pacific being one of the few notable exceptions for which European nationals are eligible to apply. However at present, there are no fully funded schemes available in the United Kingdom.​

Route to the right seat - What you need to do to become a commercial airline pilot

Becoming an Airline Pilot - Frequently Asked Questions

We've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions with regards to becoming a modern day commercial airline pilot. Some of the questions require more in depth answers than others, so in some case we've directed you to the section of this site that provides a more comprehensive answer.​

The realities of life as a modern day airline pilot

What's good about being a pilot and what you may not have considered . . .

Flying can be a very rewarding career, both financially and in terms of job satisfaction, but it is important to know both the ups and downs of the profession. It is also important to know what you are looking for in the career as this could significantly impact on the type of flying and airline you may set out to work for.​

Flight crew undertakes intensive and expensive training to develop a highly unique and perishable skill set. As a result, pilots are generally well paid, earning significantly above the average salary varying between around £30,000 to over £150,000 depending on seniority, aircraft and airline. The remuneration can vary considerably from company to company, but generally speaking low cost carriers tend to pay less than the flag carriers, and as one might expect, the bigger the aircraft and the further you go, the greater the pay.

Commercial Airline Pilot Medical Requirements

What medical qualifications you need to become a pilot?

Gaining a clear understanding of what is required in order to be eligible to apply for a commercial pilot job can be quite a challenge. There seem to be so many steps involved and a meaningless jungle of abbreviations to work out. This section concentrates on the medical requirements to become a pilot.

Financing Commercial Flight Training - How to pay for your airline pilot training

Financial Implications Explained

ATPL Finance offers tailored finance solutions specifically for modular commercial flight training. ATPL Finance has a number of affiliated flight schools that are approved for training with an unsecured loan, if your chosen school is not listed you can request for them to become affiliated with ATPL Finance. They also offer protection for the loan should you lose your medical or if the flight school ceases to trade.

Academic Qualifications - What should I study at school / university to become an airline pilot​​

Academic qualifications requirements for pilots

To obtain a frozen air transport licence (fATPL), it is not a prerequreset that you hold academic qualifications. However the vast majority of airlines specify a minimum requirement to hold at least five GCSEs from grades A-C, including those of Maths, Science and English. Some airlines will require a number of A-Levels, and typically emphasis is placed on the desirability to hold these in both Maths and Science based subjects (particularly physics).​



Aviation Jargon Buster

-There are hundreds of aviation acronyms to get your head round

AA - Anti Aircraft
AA - American Airlines
AAL - Above Aerodrome Level​

How old is too old? - A look at the issue of age when starting flight training​​.

When are you too old to start flight training?

For some it might be a case of saving until there is enough money in the bank to pay for training, for others it's the desire to move on from a 9-5 office job, but there are plenty of people who decide to start their flying careers later in life.​

The answer is that you only become too old when you can no longer hold a class one medical. However if you are starting your training over the age of around forty, what you are looking to achieve takes some serious consideration. Like most decisions, deciding whether it is a worth while investment is very specific to individual circumstances taking into account current and future finances and family commitments.

When deciding whether to go for it or not, ask yourself a few questions...

How much do Airline Pillot's earn / get paid a year?

From a Jumbo Jet to small propellers

Generally speaking, the bigger the aircraft and the further the aircraft is flown, the more an airline pilot gets paid. Many airlines also have a yearly increase in salary that reflects the pilots length of service.

​The Guardian (a UK newspaper) stated that in 2013, airline pilots were the 2nd highest paid profession in the United Kingdom earning an average of £78,356 a year.

Airline pilots are split into two roles; the Captain and First Officer. The Captain is in charge of the aircraft and ultimately responsible for the safety of the passengers, crew and aircraft. The First Officer assists the Captain in the safe operation of the flight with (on most days), the flying duties being split evenly, taking it in turns to fly the aircraft.

The figures below are meant to be used as a general guide. Each airline has its own pilot pay scales which will vary with the type of operation and aircraft type.

Eyesight requirements for airline pilots - Can I wear glasses an be a pilot?

The answer is yes - you can wear glasses and be an airline pilot - you don't need to have perfect vision. However you are required to have a certain standard of vision as outlined below.

Colour Vision requirements for airline pilots - Can I be colour blind and be a pilot?

The answer is yes - you can be colour blind and become an airline pilot, however, it depends on the severity and what colours you can recognise.

Your colour vision will be assessed at your inital Class One Medical (a requirement to be a commercial airline pilot)

"Applicants shall be required to demonstrate the ability to perceive readily the colours that are necessary for the safe performance of duties.

Applicants shall pass the Ishihara test for the initial issue of a medical certificate.

Applicants who fail to pass in the Ishihara test shall undergo further colour perception testing to establish whether they are colour safe."

Becoming a Commercial Airline Pilot

Whether you are seriously considering becoming an airline pilot, or you're just seeking some background information about how to achieve it, we have everything you need to know right here. It can be a complex process, but we've made everything as clear and easy to understand as possible. We have covered everything from the latest cadet airline pilot opportunities, how to finance your commercial flight training, to the Universities which offer Aviation based degree courses. We also have an aviation jargon buster to help you out with all the aviation acronyms.