Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Thursday, Feb 16, 2006
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, Feb 16, 2006 |
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Human Resources Queensland aviation training team offers solutions for pilots shortage Our Bureau
Bangalore , Feb. 15 THEIR visit could not have been more timely than now— when a group of striking domestic pilots have made a point on their indispensability. At least half a dozen top pilot training school chiefs from Queensland have flown in to suggest how the country's growing number of airlines can bridge their pilot shortage of 500-1,000 a year. The flying schools are talking to Jet Airways, Kingfisher, Air Deccan, Spicejet and IndiGo among others during their four-day tour of Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. Their proposals range from pilot sponsorship contracts from airlines for flight training in Australia, to sending in Australian instructors for short periods; even partnering with Indian flying schools and lending Australian instructors to coach or fly planes here. The 15-member Queensland Aviation Trade Mission is sponsored by the Queensland Government, which has an aggressive aviation education strategy starting in schools. It has even floated a flying school, Aviation Australia, with the backing of premier brands Qantas, Virgin Blue and Boeing. Last year, Aviation Australia signed an agreement with Kochi-based NeST Avionics to start a school for aircraft engineers using the Queensland entity's international credentials. With 500 expatriate pilots, an ever-increasing number of low-cost airlines wanting to hire fully trained pilots, and the US getting tough on flight training post-9/11 for Asians, Australia would be the right choice for Indian aspirants, Mr George Crofts, CEO of the Australian Wings Academy Pty Ltd, told Business Line. Cheaper than US: Mr Croft, a former airline pilot, said training in Australia could be 10 per cent cheaper than in the US and about 50 per cent less costlier than in Europe, but just as good. Arena Aviation, whose GM, Mr Tom Allibone, is here, already has two Indian students for its 18-month course. Airline Academy of Australia and Boeing's own flying school Alteon Training are just two of the numerous flying schools in Queensland alone. Air Commodore (retd) J. Varkey, General Secretary of the Bangalore-based body of Indian aerospace industries, SIATI, said the society's aim was to reduce the cost of training abroad. A commercial pilot's licence (CPL) needs 250 mandatory flying hours and each hour costs the trainee Rs 3,000. "It would be ideal if we could work out a model to offer technical training in India and a more reasonable practical flying session in Australia or elsewhere." On the back of flying schools comes the trainer aircraft — which is where Mr Steve Wilson's two-seater aircraft-making company, Dean Wilson Aviation Ltd, is trying to fit in its small plane, the Whitney Boomerang. Mr Wilson is also looking at sourcing 20 per cent of the components, worth Aus $ 2-3 million, out of India. Any Queensland solution would also end poaching among airlines, as Mr David Belham, Queensland Trade & Investment Commissioner in Bangalore, sees it. The State would be back for more for Aero India 2007, he said.
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