Pilot and Air Hostess Courses

To get wings is every young mind's dream. A career in aviation nearly fulfills that dream for many. Being a pilot or an air hostess in an airline is like getting wings and flying in the sky. To become a pilot or an air hostess, there are various aviation academy and courses that one can take. Pilot training schools or courses is offered by both private and government institutes. It is a coveted course and many aspire for this course. Pilot training is an expensive course. To be an air hostess also, one has to undergo specialized training. This training is offered by a number of private and some government institutes and colleges in India and abroad. Relatively, this training is less expensive. A few airlines have also come up with air hostess training institutes and offer on-the-job training too.

The responsibility of a commercial pilot is to fly and take control of the aircraft that he/she is flying at all times. The aircraft may be full of people, full of cargo or both. From a smooth take-off to a safe landing, it is the primary responsibility of the pilot to handle the aircraft. The job of a pilot is not easy. It requires a lot of hard work, technical understanding, presence of mind, quick decision-making skills and an enormous sense of responsibility. If the aircraft hits rough weather or develops a technical snag, the duty of keeping the passengers and the crew safe falls on the shoulders of the pilot. Also, pilots are required to fly for long hours, be away from home for long periods of time, remain on call for duty any time and do not enjoy the luxury of regular holidays.

However, the perks associated with the job of a pilot are also plenty. Besides god salary, pilots get to travel at length, get free travel and medical facilities and also free air tickets for the whole family at least once a year. All these perks make the jobs very attractive. One should evaluate both the upside and the downside of this career before deciding to step foot into it. With the liberalization of the aviation sector in India, the demand for trained commercial pilots has been constantly growing. Consequently, the number of students aspiring to become pilots has also risen. A number of institutes in India and abroad offer pilot training to young men and women.

There are three primary stages in the pilot training. Firstly, a student has to obtain the Student Pilot License (SPL) for the training. This can be obtained at a minimum of 16 years of age after matriculation. After the SPL, one has to obtain the Private Pilot License (PPL). With the PPL, a student is given practical and theoretical training on flying. A student is also tested on his theoretical and practical knowledge associated with flying, the aircraft, etc. After the successful completion of the training, one obtains the Commercial Pilot License (CPL). With a commercial pilot license and the minimum number of hours of flying, one can be hired as a commercial pilot with an airline.

To become an air hostess or a steward, one has to undergo a diploma course. Air hostess courses are offered by a number of private institutes. Though this job is particularly popular with women, there are men also who opt to take up the training and become stewards in the flight. During the course for air hostess training, the students are trained in the basic mannerisms of serving and dealing with the passengers on-board. They are also imparted general training about the aircraft and how to handle crisis situations. Since the jobs of an air-hostess requires direct customer service, they are required to be presentable, polite, patient, understanding and with very good communication skills. Sometimes, airhostesses have to deal with difficult passengers or unusual demands on board. They have to keep their cool under such situations and handle each situation tactfully. Air hostesses are also required to reassure and help the passengers in terms of safety is an aircraft is in any trouble.

Thus, career as a pilot or an air hostess can be rewarding as well as challenging at the same time. With a proper training and reputed pilot course or air hostess course, one can look at a bright career in future.

Geetika jain writes on behalf of Shiksha.com. Shiksha.com is an education portal that connects education seeker with education provider. Shiksha.com has wide information over aviation courses and colleges, students community and courses. Its education forums enable its users to seek opinion of students, alumni and faculty of colleges and schools through College Groups and School Groups.