Reach for the sky

SUMANTHA RATHORE / TNN / Jul 21, 2007, 00:00 IST

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With airlines scrambling to hire skilled pilots both from India and abroad, pilot salaries have skyrocketed, resulting in a maddening rush for flying schools in the country.

Thanks to the recent boom in the airline industry, the demand for skilled pilots has only increased. With airlines scrambling to hire skilled pilots both from India and abroad, pilot salaries have skyrocketed, resulting in a maddening rush for flying schools in the country. Recently there has been a considerable increase in the number of students opting to stay in India and learn to fly; for one thing, it is more economical and closer home.
Now, for the first time, all those with a thirst and love for aviation can not only fulfil their passion for flying, but also combine it with a lucrative and interesting career. Commercial aspects apart, flying is all set to be thrilling and glamourous with Carver Aviation Academy, Baramati, one of the largest and most productive flying schools in India.
The Academy now has over 100 students and 21 aircraft , including 19 single and two multi-engine aircraft, which are continuously airborne. According to Mark Carvalho, the owner of the flying school, he is hardly able to cope with the demand. He says, "My focus now is not on recruiting students but on making sure that they are receiving appropriate training and that they can finish their training in a defined time frame." They have employed the latest methods for pilot-training in the country and the school has a superb safety record because of the new-generation planes used. One of the things he has done to improve productivity is to buy new Thorpe T211 single engine trainer aircraft from Taneja Aerospace and Aviation, Bangalore. Mark adds, "Having the Thorpe is proving to be a big plus point. It is extremely efficient to operate and has excellent service ability which means that the students get to fly more every day." The facilities offered here are state-of-the-art that includes simulator training.
Apart form this aircraft they also have Citation XLS and P68C. Citation XLS can accommodate six to eight passengers, stand-up cabin class business jet with plush interiors equipped with a galley, flat screen TV, entertainment system, toilet and wood cabinetry among other comforts - it's everything that top corporate honchos would desire. And P68C is a highly economical aircraft equipped with all the elements required for a luxurious lifestyle.

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