As airlines in the country build up their fleet size, the need for trained pilots is set to increase rapidly. With the aim of expanding in such a lucrative market, New Zealand-based pilot training company, CTC Aviation Training, has started having meetings with domestic airlines to provide trained pilots.

“We have had a meeting with Jet Airways and GoAir for providing trained pilots,” said Mr Ian Calvert, Chief Executive Officer, CTC Aviation Training (NZ).

The company has already provided type-rating for 12-15 SpiceJet pilots as part of a tie-up with the low-cost carrier.

CTC Aviation Training's course has the requisite approval from the civil aviation regulator. The company's training process is stringent. “Only 6-7 per cent of the applicants pass the selection,” added Mr Calvert.

Large shortfall

The company expects a gap of 4,000-5,000 pilots in the country and hopes to play a role in plugging the gap. “The demand for pilots will increase very fast. IndiGo, for example, will start getting one aircraft delivered every month for almost a decade. They will need pilots to fly these aircraft,” said Mr Calvert.

The demand for pilots is getting fuelled by large scale aircraft orders from domestic carriers. IndiGo had placed an order for 180 aircraft earlier this year, and GoAir is going in for 72 aircraft.

The Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also taken steps for ensuring pilot training is carried out in a stringent manner following numerous instances of pilots getting licences fraudulently.

The DGCA also plans to phase out about 400 foreign pilots/commanders with Indian airlines. The phase out envisions replacing them with Indian nationals by 2013. This is also set to increase the demand for trained domestic pilots.

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