Air-India to recruit pilots from campuses

Air-India, owing to the acute shortage of pilots, is planning to recruit engineering and science graduates from college campuses.

The national flag carrier requires over 700 pilots over the next seven years and the proposed recruitment drive would continue for two to three years.

Air-India currently has 600 pilots. Over the last two years, the company has recruited around 150 pilots.

"The Air-India board has recently given its approval to recruit science and engineering graduates from Indian campuses," said Vasudevan Thulasidas, CMD.

He added, the recruitment would be subject to bonds and guarantees. "These graduates would be trained abroad as well in domestic academies," he said.

Thulasidas said Air-India would partner with the Indira Gandhi Rashtiya Uran Akademy to train these pilots.

"All the recruitment would be based on proper aptitude and other eligibility tests. We are also targeting all flying clubs and training schools. We're also looking at appointing managment graduates," he added.

Industry analysts say India is going to add over 300 aircraft over the next three to four years and the civil aviation industry would require over 3,500 additional pilots. However, there aren't enough training schools in India.

The Indian aviation industry would also require at least 300 expatriate pilots to supplement the aviation boom in the industry.

They point out India can cash in on the civil aviation boom only by revamping the training facilities and using expatriate pilots.

Currently, there are 39 Aircraft maintenance engineers training institutes. Out of the 39 flying clubs and flying training institutes combined, many lack proper infrastructure, instructors and trainer aircraft and quite a few have become non-functional.