The Hindu Business Line : Aviation Academy to get multi-engine aircraft

THE Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy has decided to acquire a multi-engine aircraft sensing demand from more and more airlines looking for people with experience on such aircraft for recruitment as pilots.

Currently, the academy has four single-engine aircraft. "We will buy a multi-engine aircraft in order to meet airlines' requirement for freshers with multi-engine experience and endorsement," Capt. S.N. Reddy, Secretary of the academy, said.

In an interview to Business Line, he related how the academy could turn around. The academy, which has been on a bad patch for three decades, has started showing surpluses during the last four years.

"Earlier, we were producing three-four commercial licences annually. Now we are able to produce 12-14 pilots," he said.

Last year, Air India recruited two of academy-trained pilots, while Sahara and Jet Airways absorbed one each. Air Deccan alone recruited five academy students.

He said the academy offered competitive fee structure. While civil aviation authorities charged Rs 3,720 per hour (of flying), private academies collected Rs 3,500-Rs 3,600. "But we charge Rs 2,700 on Hansa and Rs 2,800 on Cessna ," he said.

At least 250 hours of training is required to become a commercial pilot. Capt. Reddy, who had received training in the institute four-and-half decades ago, said things were so bad at the academy at one time that the Government contemplated the idea of closing it down.

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