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This story is from December 10, 2006
Women pilots flying high
Attractive remuneration and societal respect are driving the women of today to join the profession.
BANGALORE: Indira Mittra has been flying for 17 years. She is one of India's most experienced pilots and few men pilots can hold a candle to her. When she started out there were only a handful of women pilots in the Indian skies, but today there are 137 of them, and the tribe is growing.
Attractive remuneration, societal respect, spirit of adventure and the thrill of the unknown are driving the women of today to join a profession which was once deemed a man's den.
There are over 1,300 men pilots in India.
Says Mittra, who is currently serving Air Deccan, "Several women today love to pilot. Parents are much more understanding these days. I wanted to be an astronaut, but I'm happy I've reached at least half-way there."
India had 15 women pilots during the turn of the century but today it has grown ninefold. Says Air Deccan MD Capt. G R Gopinath, "We employ over 40 women pilots. They're passionate about flying, committed and highly disciplined." Encouraged by the trend, Indus Aviation has decided to start a pilot academy in Bangalore with focus on women.
Attractive remuneration, societal respect, spirit of adventure and the thrill of the unknown are driving the women of today to join a profession which was once deemed a man's den.
Says Mittra, who is currently serving Air Deccan, "Several women today love to pilot. Parents are much more understanding these days. I wanted to be an astronaut, but I'm happy I've reached at least half-way there."
India had 15 women pilots during the turn of the century but today it has grown ninefold. Says Air Deccan MD Capt. G R Gopinath, "We employ over 40 women pilots. They're passionate about flying, committed and highly disciplined." Encouraged by the trend, Indus Aviation has decided to start a pilot academy in Bangalore with focus on women.
"We hope to start by early 2007,'' says its owner Ravi Kota. A lot of pilots are coming in from Indian Air Force with over 2,000 hours of flying. "They get commercial pilot licences pretty easy," says aviation consultant Praveen Paul. "Though it costs Rs 15-18 lakh to become a pilot, many women are coming in because they have become fiercely independent."
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