Wanted, pilots for corporate jets

Pilot shortages are not restricted to airlines only. Even the corporate sector and private chartered operators are feeling the pinch.

Considered one of the best status symbol, the number of privately-owned aircraft in the Indian corporate sector have risen from about 50 "" two years ago "" to 120 currently. And, about 600 pilots are required to fly these machines, though only 450 are available.

Aviation sources say that the scarcity has attracted about 140 foreign pilots to India in the past two years and also sent pilots' salaries skyrocketing.

They are now paid an average monthly package of about Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. Besides this, concepts like hourly flying rates and "on-demand pilots" are also becoming common.

Not surprisingly, both, pilots as well as the aviation companies, are cashing in on the current boom.

"The trend of part-time pilots is on the rise. People are leaving airline jobs and flying aircraft from the corporate sector, where, if they work on an hourly basis, they get around Rs 10,000 per hour, as against Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per hour in airlines,"says Yashraj Tongia, promoter, Yash Air Limited, a private pilot training academy.

He added that his company is currently setting up a team of 30 pilots to lease out to corporates on hourly basis or on short-term assignments.

There has been a steep rise in the number of aircraft owned by private companies and corporate jets in the country.

According to civil aviation ministry sources, new players like realtor major DLF, TVS Motors, power and airport major GMR Group, Hero Group and consumer durables giant Videocon are in the process of acquiring their own aircraft.

Further, players like Reliance Industries, the UB Group, Bajaj Auto, Kalyani Forge and the Raymonds group, are adding to their existing individual fleet of aircraft. According to aviation experts, the current number of 120 aircraft will go up to about 300 in the next 3 years.

Unlike regular airlines, which mostly have single-configuration aircraft ((like Boeing or Airbus) fleet, private jets are of different brands and capacities, like Beech King 350, Falcon 900 EC & 2000 series; Gulfstream and Sikorsky are frequently used in India.

Companies require to give specific training and endorsements for each pilot to fly these machines.