Thiruvananthapuram: Many young girls are making inquiries at Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology (RAGAAT), the only flying school in the city, about pilot training courses.
Uyare, the hit Malaya-lam movie released very recently, which revolves around a girl named Pallavi who dreams of becoming a pilot someday, has inspired many of them to check out on RAGAAT. “This movie has helped to create awareness about aviation and aeronautics among the females acr-oss the country,” says Mr. Gopakumar R.L., secretary of RAGAAT.
He said the movie has inspired many young girls across the country to take up career in aviation. As a result more women candidates are coming to the field.
There are 32 fully functioning flying clubs across the country which works under the DGCA. “This is an elite occupation. It requires attitude, amplitude and a lot of dedication on the part of the student. This profession also brings an opportunity to pilots to maintain high living standards till the age of retirement i.e. 65 years. But the job involves risk,” he said.
The club boasts of one of the best training equipment in the region. It has four single engine Cessna 172 aircraft. Of these two are glass cockpit airplanes, a piper Seneca twin engine aircraft for advanced training. Many students who got trained here are today working as commercial pilots, flight engineers and crew members across the country and even abroad.
The academy offers courses for the students to get a license to become specialised commercial pilots. The course is divided into Private Pilot License (PPL) which is one year course and consists of approximately 40-60 ho-urs of flying time by the students. Then, there is a combined course of Private Pilot License and Commercial Pilot License (CPL), which is a three year course and consists of 200 hours of flying time and finally there is CPL course for PPL holders which is of fifteen month and consist of approximately 160 hours of flying.
On passing out of the institution the students become commercial pilots in commercials firms with title of captain and first flying officer, and with experience the title of senior pilot or commander is awarded. The admissions for the year 2019-20 for Commercial Pilot License has begun and the last date for applications is May 31, 2019.
