20yr Olds Flock To India Cockpits Amidst Pilot Shortage

CD · Post by CD » Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:57 am

Twenty-Somethings Flock To India Cockpits Amidst Pilot Shortage
Young People Taking To The Skies

The law of supply and demand is at work in India... a country struggling to find pilots to fly its ever-expanding fleet of airliners. But instead of looking outside the country for new recruits, some India airlines say native twenty-somethings are answering the call, and flocking to flight training programs.

It isn't hard to see why. Pilot compensation packages are increasing... in fact, average salary for an entry-level pilot is about Rs 1.5 lakh, or about $200,000.

Just three years ago the average entry level pilot was 23 years old, compared to today's 20 year old. And that figure will continue to fall, according to industry experts.

The minimum eligibility for a commercial pilot license (CPL) is 17 years. A CPL course in India is about two years; six months ago, flying hours required to attain a CPL were reduced from 250 to 200, subsequently reducing the course time.

According to India's Directorate Council of Civil Aviation, the average age of students in the October 2006 Commercial Pilot License exam was 19-20 years old.

"Demand for pilots has increased in the last five years as the industry is expanding," said a ground instructor with Indira Ghandi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA). The average age of IGRUA students is 18-20, with its youngest only 17 years old.

About 500 pilots are needed per year whereas only 200 pilots are being trained every year in India. There are 39 flying training schools in India.

Many young hopefuls receive their training overseas, where the average course is about six to nine months, as compared to two years in India. There are some local private institutes, however, with international relationships, that provide a one year CPL course, reported the India Times.

Lateral entry from the air force continues, with many opting for it as a second career.

"However, owing to surge in job opportunities, many youngsters are entering the field just after 10+2 (in the Indian educational system)," said Akhileshwar Prasad, director of the Griffin Aviation Academy. Of its 31 students, 20 are below 20 years of age.

Airlines are not complaining. "It's easy to train and mould them. Youngsters adapt themselves easily," said Harpreet A De Singh, deputy GM, training operations for Air-India, where the training period is six months.

"We have seen an increase in the number of young pilots, especially women. Around seven percent of our pilots are women, as compared to one percent last year," said a SpiceJet official.

Commercial cockpit occupants will become even younger as these copilots complete 2,500 hours of log-in time required to become a commander. Young pilots also have the opportunity of flying with private carriers.

With the average age of first-level pilots now at 20, the Indian aviation industry will have commanders under 25 in the next few years," says Kapil Kaul, India CEO of Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.

FMI: http://www.airindia.com, http://dgca.nic.in, http://igrua.gov.in
aero-news.net

twinpratts · Post by **twinpratts** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:50 am

200K WTF!
I heard you can live on 96 cents a day over there..

ScudRunner · Post by **ScudRunner** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:12 pm

Next Stop New Dehli

pika · Post by **pika** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:25 pm

You probably could live on 96 cents per day but would you want to?

Anybody remember Boeing's long ago prediction of one major airframe loss per week if things continued down the same path?

CaptainHaddock · Post by **CaptainHaddock** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:01 pm

Well I know I for one would be snug as a bug in a rug with my 25 year old 2500hr 'Commander' and his 18 year old 200hr First Officer up front of the old A330,787,etc.

Are these requirements for turbo props? or are these guys flying heavy iron overseas?

rickenbacker · Post by **rickenbacker** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:34 pm

I doubt that it's 200,000. The airlines are offering contracts to qualified pilots now and paying $200,000 for the Captains. They've just started looking for F/O's out of country. I would say it's more like 20,000 to start. The computer IT people get about 7000 a year. That's the reason all the jobs have headed that way, cheap labor.
There are many contracts over there and a lot of pilots needed. Just check out any of the websites.

Hadji Ramjet · Post by **Hadji Ramjet** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 10:06 pm

Um, try converting Rs 1.5 lakh to Canadian dollars and see what it really is?

ScudRunner · Post by **ScudRunner** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:37 am

http://www.xe.com/
Currency Converter

Ok please correct me if im wrong math aint my strongest subject.

To get a proper number out of a lahk you basically ad 5 zero's to it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakh

so 1.5 Lahk is = to 1,500,000 Rupees wich is $39,622.58 CAD
or is that 15 Million Rupees =396,469.79 CAD

Stick-Shaker · Post by **Stick-Shaker** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:06 pm

It is true, A friend of mine was there for capt screening on NG's and he told me that the capt do all take offs and landings becuase the fo's have 300 hrs..they had better pay 200K USD because you will have to earn every penny. The FO's will know the techy side of the aircraft, SOPS etc, so weel they will make the skipper look like Gilligan but they know squawt about the mechanics of flying (just like we did at 300 hours but we were in Cessna's not 737's)

invertedattitude · Post by **invertedattitude** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:13 pm

Wow, hello backup career.

invertedattitude · Post by **invertedattitude** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:15 pm

Also for you Ex-JetsGo guys, rumour has it that ol M.Leblanc owns SpiceJet from the background.... just a rumour, but even the website is run by a company from Montreal, which I also heard is rumoured to be owned by one of his personal friends.

Hadji Ramjet · Post by **Hadji Ramjet** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:53 pm

1 lakh is one hundred thousand. The confusion might stem from the Indian convention of writing, for example three million as 30,00000 vice the western norm of 3,000,000. It's done that way to indicate 30 lakh.

Nice avatar

I don't think Leblanc has anything to do with SpiceJet, but there is some chat that he's in with Vacances Maestro.

Last time I was there (India), took Jet to Rajasthan, the F/O flew. Only saw one leg though.

DA900 · Post by **DA900** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 4:57 pm

I thought India was suppose to crack down on child labour. Sadly it doesn't seem to be true.

Turbofan · Post by **Turbofan** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:37 pm

If I may clear the air about the Indian currency.
A Lakh is just another term for one hundred thousand

1.5 Lakh is written as 1,50,000 which we are used to seeing as 150,000.

if you put that in the ole currency converter you come up with about 3960.00 CAD.

That is about right for F/O's here in India.
FYI Capts would get between 3-4+ Lakh rupees a month for expats.

And before you pack your bags to come here, do your homework!!!
Everyone needs type ratings on the aircraft you are going to fly and you need minimum 100hrs on type...preferably PIC.

cheers all...Happy Landings
TF

Four1oh · Post by **Four1oh** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:48 am

so, what does almost 4000 Cdn get you for a lifestyle in India?

Kelowna Pilot · Post by **Kelowna Pilot** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:37 am

Also remember that there are a zillion Indians training overseas right now.

When they're done, they're all going to flock back to India.

The second the Indian carriers can replace Whitey with an Indian, they will.

I know a few guys who are all flying overseas, the common sentiment among them is that they are all flying on borrowed time until they can be replaced by a local.

The concern is what will happen to the North American job scene when India and Asia send all the expats home packing...

Stick-Shaker · Post by **Stick-Shaker** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:29 pm

Kelowna P:

You are exactly correct. As a developing country, they need (right fully so) the money earned in India to stay in India. As long as expats are present, the money gets transfered out and not spent there. No country can develop if the $$$ don't stick around.

Until they have their own pilots that can do the job, they will have expats, but once they can be self sufficient, they will be.

bob sacamano · Post by **bob sacamano** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:05 pm

Stick-Shaker wrote:Kelowna P:

You are exactly correct. As a developing country, they need (right fully so) the money earned in India to stay in India. As long as expats are present, the money gets transfered out and not spent there. No country can develop if the $$$ don't stick around.

Until they have their own pilots that can do the job, they will have expats, but once they can be self sufficient, they will be.

Sure, the logic is correct, however, we have to look at where it's being applied. India's population is 1/6th of the entire world. So a few pilots sending a few bucks back home isn't gonna put a dent in anyone's pocket.

I don't think we have to worry about the expats coming home anytime soon.

It's true however, that they only use the expats when they need them, and then send then send them home.

Stick-Shaker · Post by **Stick-Shaker** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:10 am

India pop: 1 Billion.

India pop that is middle class: 250 million.

1 Billion-250 Million = a whole bunch of poverty (unfortunately)

Regardless that India is 1/6 of the global population, its only 25% of its citizens that contribute to its GDP.

So long as those %'s ring true, they will require every dime that is earned in India to stay in India. Contracts in India will be a good gig as long as they last.

How is the ATC system coming along there these days? I understand that the FAA is assisting.

767 · Post by **767** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:24 pm

thats where im headed after graduation. spicejet here i come.

Panama Jack · Post by **Panama Jack** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:37 am

In comparison, in Canada companies seem to require 1 lakh hours on type to get the same job.

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:33 pm

744 wrote:thats where im headed after graduation. spicejet here i come.

Yep there are a LOT of future SpiceJet pilots training here in Canada right now

frank9757 · Post by **frank9757** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 6:06 pm

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CD Wrote " Pilot compensation packages are increasing... in fact, average salary for an entry-level pilot is about Rs 1.5 lakh, or about $200,000."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CD. I can agree with 1.5 Lakh a month, which translates to approximately Canadian $3200 per month, it can not be $200,000. The cost of living is cheap there and one can comfortably live in India for about $ 500-1000 with average life style.

20yr Olds Flock To India Cockpits Amidst Pilot Shortage

20yr Olds Flock To India Cockpits Amidst Pilot Shortage

the mighty lakh