Taking off

It's been a walk in the clouds for women pilots ever since they took to the skies four decades ago...Business magnate, Mukesh Ambani's plans to employ only women pilots to fly most of his cargo planes is a case in point that 21st century women are making a mark in the aviation industry that was once considered a man's domain. "Since the turn of the century, women pilots in India have increased ten fold.Today, India has the largest number of women pilots in the world," says flight instructor from the city, Neil Earnest.
Statistics show that there are around 250 women commercial pilots in the country. It's sure been a long flight since Sarla Thakral, India's first woman to fly an aircraft, took to the blue skies! "With parents being more open-minded , more women are taking up the profession. But the figures only add up to around 15 per cent of the total strength of pilots in the country. On an average around 70 students complete their training every year in the city, of which one-fourth are women. Cargo flights, compared to passenger flights are a secondary option for any aspiring pilot," says Captain Mamatha K, the first woman pilot from Andhra Pradesh. Incidentally, she is also the first woman to set up an aviation academy.
With the aviation industry booming in India, the future looks promising for lady pilots. It is considered a lucrative career option. "A fresh graduate begins with a remuneration of about Rs 1.5 to 2 lakhs per month. And those with more flying hours and experience draw about Rs 3 - 4 lakhs per month. The perks are at par with men," adds Mamatha, clarifying that gender is not an issue here.
With the best flying jobs available in India, pilots are flocking here from across the globe. Poornima Y, who's completed her training in the US, has made her way back to Hyderabad to join the industry. "The salaries here are higher in comparison to the US even though the training facilities are better there. In the US, a fresher earns around $2000 per month, which is less than what airlines in India promise." The fee structure for training adds
up to approximately Rs 16 - 18 lakhs. And depending on the performance , training can take anywhere between 18 months to two years to acquire the certificate.
For some, the Indian Air Force is an even better pursuit. Though it does not allow women to fly fighter planes, it allows them to serve the forces. Cadet Mallika Dutta of the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, says, "Women pilots in the Air Force, flying non-combat planes, serve a shorter term in comparison to men. That leaves us with an option to pursue commercial piloting later. We have the advantage of logging in more jet hours, learning to fly heavier aircrafts , which gives us more experience . This prepares us better for a career in commercial piloting."
FIRST FLIGHTS
Sarla Thakral was India's first lady pilot, in 1966 The first all-women crew flight took off with Captain Saudamini Deshmukh in command in November 1985 on the Calcutta-Silchar route. Nivedita Bhasin of IA became the youngest woman pilot in the world civil aviation history to command a commercial jet aircraft in 1990 at the age of 26.
HIGH GROUNDS
Hyderabad has three flying schools Captain Mamatha K is the first woman pilot from Andhra Pradesh Indian (formerly IA) has the distinction of employing the highest number of women pilots