Pilots In India

ext">A few years ago opting to become a pilot wasScottish airline most of its crew including the pilots
one of the best career decisions to make as it offeredwere left stranded across the globe! This incident
both prestige and money. However, over the fewalong with several others has caused a relative fear
years the lull in the aviation industry at large hasof joining an airline in any capacity.
caused the entire framework of lucrative jobs toThe Jet Airways cutbacks that were splashed all over
come crashing down. The high flying career of a pilotthe papers and shown on all news channels across
has come to a halt and is no longer as cushy as itIndia had created quite a flutter amongst aspiring pilots.
once was.Many students who thought of joining ranks with the
In India a number of aviation academies had croppedother successful pilots are now opting to go for an
up to train aspiring pilots but the drastic economic shift,MBA. Considering the cost of becoming a pilot that
the rising oil prices and the reduction of expansionruns up to a hefty 20 Lakhs or more in India, many are
services of aviation companies has caused a hugechoosing to go for professional courses that offer
downturn in the number of students opting to becomegreater stability than that offered in the world of
a pilot. A few years back the aviation industry in Indiaaviation.
was touching a new high and a number of privateThe sudden closures, cutbacks, retrenchments, salary
airlines like Indigo Air, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines,cuts along with no-new-hiring policy have left many in
Deccan Air and Spice Jet among others were offeringthe lurch. There are at least 5000 if not more
connecting flights to most of the major cities of India. Inunemployed pilots in India who are now looking for jobs
a span of four years the apparent ebb in the industryin cargo, private charter planes and even joining regular
not only caused the industry to cut back on theoffices.
number of flights but also forced them to reduce theBut if analytical reports are to be believed the aviation
number of pilots as well as their pay checks.industry is going to rise once again. Rise and fall are a
This phenomenon was not secluded to India alone andvery natural order of things. The worst time for the
was seen in airline companies around the globe. TakeIndian aviation industry was in 2008-2009. But the
for instance the catastrophic closure of the Scottishstrong support of the government, private
airline FlyGlobespan that shut down in one night! Theentrepreneurs and the rising economy is going to have
heavy debts and the repeated losses caused thea very positive impact on the industry this year.
airline to shut down. Due to the sudden closure of this