New Delhi: Liberalisation of the Indian aviation sector and the overall economic growth in the country have spelt an boom for the industry.
Add to it the the growing middle class and its purchasing power, low airfares offered by low cost carriers and the growth of the tourism industry and one can see a clear upward demand curve.
But the pace at which the industry is spreading its wings is not exactly proportional to the supply. And among the other infrastructural problems is the acute shortage of pilots.
"The total number of additional aircraft in the next five years is estimated at 500, for which an additional 5,000 pilots would be required," PTI quoted Aviation Ministry sources as saying.
While the industry requirement stands at 3,160 pilots, the number which is currently employed is 2,940 pilots, leaving a shortfall of around seven per cent.
In a bid to bridge the gap, the Government has decided to increase the maximum age of the pilots from 58 to 65 years. There is also a proposal to set up a world-class training academy at Gondia in Maharashtra.
Another measure to deal with the shortage is to hike seats in the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uraan Academy to 100 from the present 40.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that Government is also taking a number of other measures to cope with the unprecedented growth in the sector.
The domestic traffic is expected to grow at 25-30 per cent per annum and the international traffic growth at 15 per cent until 2010.
Constructions of new terminals, expansion of existing terminals, introduction of ATC procedures for simultaneous use of both runways at the IGI Airport in Delhi and CSI Airport in Mumbai, posting of additional ATC Officers in ATC Units are among some of the measures.
The Government is also planning to impose a ban on general aviation and military flights during peak hours at IGI and CSI Airports.
Plans to modernise and develop IGI and the CSI Airports through joint-venture companies and construction of Greenfield airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad with Public-Private-Partnership are also on the cards.
(With agency inputs)
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