The Hindu Business Line : Air India to set up schools for pilots, engineers

WITH the aviation industry facing a shortage of skilled workers at various positions such as pilots, engineers and cabin crew, Air India (AI) is planning to open training schools for pilots and aeronautical engineers.

The schools may be set up by AI on its own or in joint venture with another company, according to the AI Chairman and Managing Director, Mr V. Thulasidas. He told presspersons at a seminar on low-cost airlines here today that the details of the two training schools were yet to be worked out.

The airline would finalise advisors for its proposed IPO in about two weeks, he said.

The national carrier's plans to launch a full-fledged freighter service were hamstrung by the non-availability of suitable aircraft for conversion. Two of its own A310 aircraft, identified for conversion, would be ready for service in 2006.

As for AI Express, Mr Thulasidas said that as it expands and stabilises operations, AI Express would replace AI's services to most Gulf nations except Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

The low-cost carrier from the AI stable would also replace the national carrier's operations in South-East Asia, he said.

Boeing's MRO plans

Mr Dinesh Keskar, Senior Vice-President, Sales, Boeing, said with the growth of the aviation business in the country and the arrival of a number of new players, the US aircraft maker was considering setting up an MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility in India.

The aviation industry in India was acquiring the critical mass necessary to warrant such a facility, he said. However, he said it was still premature to talk of the details of the plan.

Earlier this week, Airbus, had ruled out setting up such a facility saying that the aircraft was satisfied with its current set-up. The European aircraft maker has established large repair and maintenance centres at Hamburg, Washington DC, Frankfurt, and Singapore, from where it services its customers across the globe.

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