GFTS, Government Flying Training School, took a very important decision which made all the commercial pilot aspirants delightful. GFTS is a Government hold flying training school, one of the top ones, situated at Jakkur in Bangalore. The institute re-opens on the first week of April after a long time.

Aspirants from different part of the country have taken admission for the Commercial Pilot License (CPL) at GFTS and the classes have already started for the first batch. At present 10 students have taken training for the 18 months CPL course at the GFTS.

Why GFTS?

CPL training courses at GFTS

GFTS had closed its training courses from the year 2002 and stopped its flying activities since 2006. The institute was going through its toughest time in those years and there was actually no hope for the re-launch. But by understanding the need and demand for an institution like GFTS, the concerned authorities made a decision to re-open the institution and re-start the course.

The popularity of the course was conformed after receiving a huge number of applications by the institute. According to the Director of GFTS, Mr. B.N. Suresh they got at least 120 application from CPL aspirants across the country.

GFTS ensures and meet all the safety measures as prescribed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The institution is also taking under consideration the new guidelines and rigid standard for the protection of the trainees. There by ensuring quality standards of aerodrome equipments.

The fee structure also differentiates GFTS from other institutions in the field. GFTS offer an attractive fee package for the young aspirants for the 18months course. The CPL course cost Rs.15.05lakhs including the reimbursing deposit. But the other institutions charge the candidates an additional of Rs.10-12lakhs for the same. So candidates prefer GFTS over other institutions, for the quality and economical training program.

GFTS- A Future Look

GFTS now owns II-Cessna-152 and I-Cessna-172 aircrafts for the training program. This is the reason why GFTS now select only 10 qualified candidates out of the 120 applications. Because the institute stands for the quality in education it offers to the students. The GFTS also aims to endow all the trainees with individual attention and be clear about each and every aspects of commercial pilot training. They are planning to buy three more II- Cessna-172 which will cost approximately Rs.3crores, just for the training purpose.

They are also looking for the multi-engine aircraft which will cost around Rs. 6crores. The Government will soon provide the fund for the development activities for the flying school and this will enable GFTS to admit more candidates for the course. They are also planning to offer the course on a part-time basis.

The students can join GFTS for the CPL after they successful complete the higher secondary course. But even those who have completed CPL needs to have a degree to get a Commercial pilot job. Therefore by focusing on this issue, the GFTS came up with a proposal of Integrated Undergraduate program. This is by seeking the participation of Bangalore University and Visvesvaraya Technological University. This will enable the plus-two pass-outs to take a degree while doing the Commercial Pilot License program. This will be an advantage for the students doing their CPL program in GFTS.

CPL and the Industry

Integrated Undergraduate program

What is after CPL? This is a question everybody asks after a course. Caption N. Jaiprakash, Chief Flying Instructor, GFTS expects that the future of a CPL holder will be dazzling. The industry itself was passed through a very slump time and at present it is in the phase of growth. There will be new projects and companies in the future in the aviation sector and this will provide good career opportunity for the CPL holders. The average starting salary that a CPL holder can expect is Rs. 80,000-1lakh/month.

Many of the airline companies are asking type-rated CPL course, which is a specialized area in the CPL program. So the students of these programs are advised to update their knowledge with the industry requirements. Most importantly the students should keep in mind that there are 4,000 people who are being jobless in India even after the CPL program.

There is an association for these people called All India Unemployed Pilots Association (AIUPA). So be ready to face tight competition outside the institution and the students will have to excel in whatever they are doing. The employers have many choices and you have to make them to choose you. And make sure that you won’t be in the AIUPA.

A common Issue…

There is a common urge for increasing the payment of the commercial pilots.  The CPL holder has to spend about Rs.20-30lakhs for the program. And those for the type-rated course cost an extra Rs.25-30lakhs. But they are offering less than Rs.1/-lakh for the commercial pilots. This is one of the areas where the authorities have to look into. Most of the students are taking Bank loans for the programs and the payment is not enough to payback the interest of the bank loans.

Also there is a common tendency by the private airlines to hire foreign pilots. This also creates problems for the Indian pilots. The Government and concerned authorities should take this problem seriously. They have to understand that this is not an area where the CPL holders can look for self-employment or go for a private practice like the Doctors, Engineers, lawyers etc. They are spending more than any degree holders, but still not getting any deserving pay packages.

The aspirants of CPL and the CPL holders are however looking out for new changes in the aviation industry and hoping for changes to happen like Regional Air Transport. Most of the students wish to get occupied in the position of Commercial Aircraft Pilot. We can hope, one day dreams come true, at-least for many.