The Hindu Business Line : Aviation: Grounded by manpower shortage

There has has been a phenomenal growth in the civil aviation sector. Three years ago, there were 130 commercial aircraft, and the number has now swelled to 350 The sector is poised to attract an investment of $200 billion. Increased fleet will enable approximately 2,000 commercial flights every day by 2020. This could boost travel and tourism activities in the country.

Pilot shortage

The sector’s primary concern is finding manpower, especially pilots. Currently, the shortage of pilots has led to the recruitment of foreign pilots. Though there are a few pilot-training institutions in the country, they are not able to meet the demand, and many aspiring pilots go abroad for training, which is very expensive.

The shortage may touch 2,000 by 2010. The Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel, wants to set up a national flying school in his constituency at Gondia, Maharashtra. Some, however, fear that the additional training facilities being set up may create a glut of pilots.

Cabin crew training has also gained significance, and many training institutes have mushroomed. Recently, a Pune-based institute arranged for practical hands-on training for its students with the Airports Authority of India. However, the demand will continue to grow, as even the no-frills airlines need cabin crew for ensuring safety.

Finding technical staff

One area of concern as far as aviation manpower is concerned is finding technical ground staff. Only a few institutions offer programmes in aeronautical engineering. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, awards post-graduate degrees; the Aeronautical Society of India conducts examinations for students enrolled for its distance-learning programme. Though considered equivalent to an aeronautical engineering degree, this programme, which is very useful for working professionals, has not been too successful. The need for aeronautical engineers will increase substantially due to the following reasons:

Many companies are setting up maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities for aircraft in India. Notable among these are Boeing’s MRO centre which is coming up in Nagpur, Lufthansa’s at Hyderabad, and Taneja’s at Hosur near Bangalore. All these centres would require aeronautical engineers in large numbers.

The Ministry of Defence has been introducing an “offset clause” in all its purchase tenders for defence stores from foreign vendors. This clause makes it obligatory for suppliers to invest a percentage, usually half, of the tender amount in a defence-related industry in India.

For example, the recent tender for the purchase of 126 multi-role fighters by the Indian Air Force will result in more than $5 billion investment in the Indian aviation sector. Such investments will create a huge demand for aeronautical engineers.

Aeronautical engineers and technicians

The existing facilities for training aeronautical engineers are far from adequate and the situation is only likely to worsen in the future.

It would be better for defence establishments such as the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, and the naval and army aviation to recruit aeronautical engineers rather than train engineers with various allied specialisations in aeronautical duties in-house.

This sector requires technicians and supervisors with different specialisations, such as in aero-engines, air-frames, electronics, instrumentation, electrical and air-conditioning, and so on. Those authorised to declare the fitness of an aircraft prior to a commercial flight have to pass an examination conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Possession of a licence is a mandatory requirement. Many institutions prepare individuals for the DGCA licensing examination, but the quality of training and the high cost are a major area of concern. There is no institution to train technicians and supervisors for activities other than commercial flying such as manufacturing, repair, training, etc.

Aviation management is a course that is gaining importance now. All tasks to be performed in the air require quick reaction time and reflexes. It is therefore important that the air crew should be young. Second, optimum output should be obtained from the aircraft.

Hence planners should be equipped with managerial skills to perform these duties. Many countries have prepared courses on aviation management, and India needs one too, soon.

(The author is a former Group Captain, IAF.)

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