Avalon to start 2-yr course on aviation

Training in ground handling, cabin crew work included.

Avalon Aviation Academy, a leading cabin crew training institute, is going beyond training air hostesses.

The academy, an aviation initiative of Aptech, plans to start a two-year post-graduate diploma in aviation management.

The institute is tying up with the Mumbai University for this diploma course, which will extend training in ground handling, airport management and cabin crew work.

The decision to start the aviation management course comes at a time when over a dozen airlines are awaiting the government's permission to fly. The World Travel and Tourism Council estimated that by 2010, India alone would have at least 1.15 jobs in the aviation sector.

Preeti Malik, vice-president (aviation training), Avalon Aviation Academy, said, "The civil aviation sector is looking for specialised and trained managers. It will be tough for a manager with logistics company to manage an airline or a tour operator to manage an airport. With more airports and airlines coming into the stream, the country would need a large number of well-trained aviation managers."

The Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA), an aviation consulting firm, said the shortage of skilled manpower would be the most difficult challenge for operators in Asia-Pacific and West Asia to face while undertaking expansion.

According to CAPA, these regions would require 150,000 additional employees to support the expansion plans of various operators.

Faced with a high attrition rate, the domestic airlines recently entered into a no-poaching agreement of engineers and other staff.

"Avalon is setting up a special residential campus at Neral (near Matheran) in 6-lakh square feet area for the proposed course. The campus, which will house 480 students, will have swimming pool, gymnasium and a library," Malik said.

An official source said the institute would have a tie-up with the University of Mumbai for this PG diploma course.

"Graduates of any discipline can apply for the two-year PG diploma course. The course fee is about Rs 2,50,000. Avalon is also guaranteeing internship with leading airports and airlines," said an Avalon executive.