Walk-in to become a Customer Agent of Air India Express at Amritsar

Air India Air Transport Services Limited (AIATSL) will be conducting a walk-in interview on February 28, 2012 at  Hotel Alstonia, SCO-111, Distt. Shopping Centre, Ranjit Avenue,
Near Passport Office, Amritsar, Punjab between 09.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
The appointment will be for a period of three years which may be renewed on the basis of their performance. Present vacancies: 30 (16 Gen , 6 OBC, 8 SC )
Eligibility (As on 01/02/2012):
a) QUALIFICATION-Graduate in any discipline (minimum three years duration) from a recognized university with ability to speak English and conversant with local language and basic computer operation.
b) PHYSICAL STANDARDS: HEIGHT -Male not below 158 cms. Female not below 152.5 cms.
Weight- As per the chart approved by Medical Services of the Company. Candidates are required to produce a certificate from Registered Medical Practitioner i.e.M.B.B.S. Doctor with regard to Height and weight. Relaxation of height requirement upto 2.5 cms will be considered for SC/ST candidates and for Gorkhas, Garhwalis and those hailing from North East States & Hilly areas on production of a certificate of Domicile of these areas (as applicable). Height and weight proportion will be as the chart approved by Medical services of the Company.
c) COSMETIC APPEARANCE: Clear complexion without any noticeable blemish, no odd scars / birth marks. Even and regular teeth.
d) AGE LIMIT : (AS ON 01.02.2012)
Others – Not above 28 years,O.B.C. – Not above 31 years,SC/ST – Not above 33 years.(Relaxation in age for Ex-Servicemen as per Govt. Guidelines).
Take along the Application Form in the specified format, duly filled in Hindi or English and requisite documents as indicated in 5.3 below, alongwith Processing and Application Fee of 300/- (Rupees Three hundred only) by means of an A/c Payee Demand Draft in favour of “Air India Air Transport Services Ltd.”Payable at Mumbai, which is NOT REFUNDABLE .No fee to be paid by Ex-Servicemen / applicants belonging to SC/ST communities. Please mention your full name and the post applied for on the reverse of the Demand Draft.
A recent (not more than 3 months old) coloured passport size photograph 4.5 cm (H) x 3.5 cm of the full face (front view) should be pasted neatly in the space provided in the
application form and also carry twelve same photographs on matt finish paper with white background at the time of walk-in.
The Candidates should carry a set of Self-attested copies of the supporting documents as proof of of Educational Qualification, Date of birth , Experience, Caste and Physical Standard.
The Application Form, must be submitted along with the above mentioned requisite documents. Original Certificates should not be submitted with the application, but should be brought for verification along with one set of photocopies.
Please visit the airlines’ website for details and for downloading the application format.

U.S. proposes tougher airline pilot qualifications

Washington: Pilots would be required to accumulate six times more flight training time to qualify as a co-pilot on a commercial airline or cargo aircraft under a U.S. government proposal released on Monday.

The Federal Aviation Administration rule, if approved, would require that pilots receive 1,500 hours of flight time compared to 250 hours now mandated under federal rules to become a first officer.
New training for specific aircraft would also be required.
“Our pilots need to have the right training and the right qualifications so they can be prepared to handle any situation they encounter in the cockpit,” FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta said.
The FAA was ordered by Congress to take action to improve pilot training and qualifications following the 2009 crash of a commuter plane in Buffalo that killed 50 people.
The latest change, which includes an allowance for military pilots who want to fly commercially, is aimed mainly at those who fly commuter or smaller feeder planes, like those at the controls of the ill-fated Colgan Air Flight 3407.
28/02/12 Reuters/moneycontrol.com

Flying clubs irregularities: 3 including top DGCA official suspended

A top Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official and two others were on Friday placed under suspension after a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report charged them with showing undue favours to 28 flying clubs.

Taking note of the CVC report of January 27 with regard to irregularities allegedly committed by the officials of DGCA and Airports Authority of India (AAI) in giving benefits to 28 flying clubs across the country, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh directed the AAI to immediately recover the outstanding dues of Rs. 190 crores from various flying clubs by March 31, official sources said.
While ordering the suspension of A.K. Saran, the then Deputy Director General, DGCA and presently Joint Director General, Parveen Kumar, the then Section Officer and D. S. Sada, the then Assistant in DGCA, the Minister said that major penalty proceedings should also be initiated against the three officials immediately. The Minister directed that major penalty proceedings be also initiated against Deepak Raina, the then in charge of the department who has since retired, if permitted under conduct rules, the sources said.
Official sources said that an FIR was also likely to be lodged against the three officials of the aviation regulator, Mr. Raina, and all 28 flying clubs among others named in the report, for criminal conspiracy and causing wrongful pecuniary loss of Rs. 190 crores to the government.
02/03/12 Vinay Kumar/The Hindu

Fly in India to prove competency: DGCA

Mumbai: According to the latest circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), any pilot licence obtained from abroad, will require a compulsory competency test in India for endorsement into an Indian licence.

Sources close to the DGCA said that changes have been incorporated to put an end to discrepancies that were exposed during the recent pilot scam. DGCA circular number 8/2/2008-LII dated February 21, 2012 (copy with MiD DAY), issued by Joint Director General (JDG), DGCA, J S Rawat, reads, “The current Guidelines for Conversion of Professional Pilot’s Licences issued in International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Contracting States into Indian Professional Pilot’s Licence (Commercial Pilot’s Licence) allow for acceptance of skill test done abroad provided the test reports are duly authenticated by a representative of the Regulatory Authority of the State where the tests have been performed. It is seen that most state authorities do not authenticate the skill reports to meet the procedure laid down in the guidelines. In case Instrument Rating (IR) is not issued by the Contracting State, the skill test carried out in the Contracting State shall not be recognised. For the issue of IR, the applicant shall be required to carry out IR skill test in India.”
The circular further recommends, “It has now been decided by the Competent Authority that all applications for issue of Indian, Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) will be accompanied with skill test reports on at least one aircraft type required to be endorsed on the Indian licence. All applications received on or after April 1, 2012 shall be accompanied with skill test report carried out in India.”
05/03/12 Bipin kumar Singh/MiD DAY

Saudia looking for Indian captains

Jeddah:  (Saudia) placed an ad in a leading Indian newspaper looking for pilots to employ, Assistant Director General of the airlines Abdullah bin Mushabab Al-Ajhar said.

“We are looking for 120 pilots from India and other Asian countries to employ with monthly salaries ranging between SR30,000 and SR37,000 in addition to a number of fringe benefits, including accommodation,” he told local newspapers yesterday.
Al-Ajhar said the captains would be piloting various types of aircraft including Airbus 320, Boeing 777, Embraer aircraft and cargo planes.
An experience of less than 20 years would be requested as well as flying hours ranging between 2,000 and 3,000. “We are only looking for captains, not assistant captains. Applicants should not be less than 30 years of age and not more than 53,” he explained. The age of retirement would be 63.
Interviews will be held in Mumbai during the period of March 6-9.
05/03/12 Arab News

843 commercial pilot licences issued this year by DGCA

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued more than 5500 commercial pilot licences (CPL) since 2008, including 843 this year, Lok Shaba was informed today.
The country’s aviation regulator issued 1458 CPLs in 2008, while 1886 such licences issued in 2009 and 1368 in the next year.
But DGCA issued only 843 CPLs out of 1023 applications it received in 2011, which saw a number of pilots found using fraudulent means to acquire their flying licences.
Similarly, DGCA issued 387 Air Transport pilot licences ( ATPL) and 181 Private Pilot Licences (PPL) so far this year, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said in a written reply to a query in Lok Sabha.
Regarding the criteria adopted in issuing various licences, Singh said, “Licences are issued on compliance of requirements stipulated in Part V and schedule II of the Aircraft Rules 1937.”
“In case fraud is detected, enforcement action is taken wherein the applicant is debarred from obtaining a licence and/or is registered with the police authorities,” he said.
Economic Times

Kenya Airways to recruit expatriate captains to ease shortage of pilots

Uganda: During the showcasing last week of Boeing’s B787 Dreamliner in Nairobi, questions were asked of Dr. Titus Naikuni, CEO of Kenya Airways (KQ), how the arrival of additional aircraft in 2012 and beyond – the airline is expecting 3 B777s and by all accounts some 10 more Embraer 190 aircraft over the next 12 to 24 months – would be managed in regard of human resources available, with specific reference to cockpit crew.
The airline has engaged in accelerated training of commercial pilots, both at their own in house, “Pride Academy,” at Embakasi headquarters and also through aviation schools in South Africa, to get sufficient pilot numbers on the payroll to actually fly those new aircraft.
Dr. Naikuni had to concede, though, that these efforts were not enough, particularly in regard of senior captains, to whom the young first officers, aka co-pilots, would then be attached. It was now becoming a certainty that expatriate captains would have to be recruited to fill those glaring gaps.
“We are in talks with the government and the unions to get permission and agreements in place to recruit expatriate pilots,” he said at the main arrival function at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Kenya Airways has the declared intention to fly by the end of 2013 to every African political and commercial capital city, and as and when the B787 Dreamliner deliveries start to commence, expected but not yet 100 percent confirmed by end of 2013 or early 2014, the addition of more frequencies to existing long-haul destinations will then be accompanied by opening up new destinations in India and China.
20/12/11 Dr. Wolfgang H Thome/eTurboNews.com

Apply Now to be a Pilot with Air India Express

Air India Charters Limited now now recruits Trainee Pilots, Co-Pilots, Captains and Instructors.

1) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
A) TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION : Candidates should be in possession of :
i. CPL / ATPL issued by Director General of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
ii. Instrument Rating endorsement on Indian CPL/ATPL.
iii. FRTO license issued by DGCA.
iv. RTR(P) / RTR(C) / RTR issued by Ministry of Communication, WPC Wing, Government of India.
v. All licenses shall be valid at the time of joining.
B) FLYING EXPERIENCE:

Captain
PIC on B737NG

Trainee Captain
–  With type endorsement on B737NG : 2000 hrs on type and holding ATPL.
OR
With PIC flying experience in jet engine aircraft with AUW greater than 50,000 kgs and holding ATPL.
OR
With PIC flying experience of 2500 hrs on Jet / Turboprop engine aircraft of airline type like ATR / CRJ / Bombardier / Embraer,holding ATPL and with airline experience.
Co-Pilot
With type endorsement on B737NG : 500 hrs on type and holding CPL / ATPL.

Eligible candidates will be required to appear for :
a) An Interview and Simulator Flight Proficiency Test (all at Mumbai).
b) Applications shall be processed in the order First Received and the selection process will be on a quasi “Walk-In” basis (see paras 07 & 08 below for details).
c) Candidates short-listed after Personal Interview will be required to undergo a Simulator Flight Proficiency Test.
d) After completion of the selection process, successful candidates shortlisted for induction as per vacancy(ies), shall be informed accordingly.
e) Short-listed candidates will have to undergo Company Pre-Employment Medical Examination (PEME); their induction will be subject to being found FIT in the PEME. (not necessary for candidates holding valid Class I medical).

Since the Selection process is scheduled on a continuous basis, candidates must submit their Applications at the earliest. Eligible applicants will be called for selection as far as possible, on the first Wednesday of every month. Applicants will be called in the order the applications were received and in case where an applicant cannot make him / herself available on the first day called, he can approach on a mutually agreed date later. Applicants declared successful in the selection process, will be made an offer of employment, and the Candidate may join immediately, subject to DGCA etc stipulations. The offer of employment for selected candidates unable to join immediately will be kept open till such time as the advertised vacancies are filled or more vacancies for Pilots are advertised.

Pl. download the detailed notification from the Air India site itself.
And get the application form also from the site.

IndiGo asks govt to relax rules for hiring expat pilots

Mumbai: The country’s second largest private carrier by market share, IndiGo, has asked the government to relax the rules for hiring expatriate pilots under the Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorisation (FATA) policy. The proposal, if approved, would allow the carrier to engage experienced pilots quitting crisis-ridden Kingfisher Airlines. “The airline has written to the Civil Aviation Ministry for waiver of additional security clearance and for transfer of FATA with respect to expatriate pilots flying in India,” industry sources said.

According to a report by The Financial Express, with the low-cost airline expanding its fleet by adding almost one aircraft every month, it needs commander-level pilots. While there is an over-supply of entry-level pilots in the country, the industry depends on foreign pilots at commander-level, experienced in flying commercial jets. The airline, which currently operates with 49 airplanes, is expanding its international operations to West Asia and Southeast Asian countries. As per an estimate, there are currently 450 expatriate pilots holding FATA.
As per existing rules, an expat pilot has to go back to his own country after completing his term with an Indian carrier and re-apply to a rival airline from there. In case the rival airline plans to hire them, they have to again go through the security clearance, medical tests and other procedures, adding to procedural delays.
27/12/11 TravelBizMonitor

More flying schools land in Salem airport as commercial flights shut

Salem: City airport is becoming a hotspot for pilot training centres in south India. International Aviation Academy launched its centre in the city last Thursday in addition to Southern Pilot Training Academy, which started to train pilots since 2008.

When asked about the reason for choosing Salem airport, Shaji Abraham John, one of the directors of IAA, said, “Good climate condition and runway at Salem Airport is highly suitable for flight training in southern India. Besides, Salem is becoming an education hub and has good road connectivity.”
John said, “A very few flying schools in the country has digital classroom facility and we are one among them, We have other facilities like Wi-Fi enabled classrooms, runway of 1,800 metre length and three fleets of Cessna 152. Cessna 172 aircraft will be available for training in next three months and multi-engine training craft will be in next December in our school.”
“IAA offers two courses – private pilot and commercial pilot. Those who had completed Plus Two with physics and maths are eligible for application,” said IAA’s ground instructor and flying instructor Captain Sarath Nair. He added that fees for the course is 18 lakh. “The flying hour of the course is 200 hours. After 30 to 40 hours of flying hours, the students themselves will operate the aircraft with the help of pilots. The daily flying hours per student will be different,” said Vineeth Kumar, aircraft engineer.
Currently, Salem Airport has zero commercial operation. It was set up in Kaamalapuram in 1993.
28/12/11 L Saravanan/Times of India