Sky’s the limit

Make your dreams of flying come true

by PAAVAN MATHEMA

FROM ISSUE # 164 (August 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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We've all made paper planes as kids and sent them soaring to our best friend sitting few a benches away in class (which sometimes hit our not-so-pleased teachers). And if we didn't aim to be a doctor or an engineer, becoming a pilot in future would be the choice.

Crisp white shirts, smart pants and signature caps- heads always turn when the cockpit crew marches by. For some people, it's the perfect job: an office that travels, a window view like no other and challenges that are exhilarating. And what's more, you get handsomely paid for it. Many think it would be neat to fly an airplane, but making it to the hot seat needs a lot more than just a dream to rise above the clouds.

"I used to watch my father wear his pilot's uniform and I knew right then that I wanted to fly too," says Bhawana Pant of Buddha Air, who has been in the profession for 12 years and is now a captain, "when I took my first flight I felt like I had achieved a big victory." Asked if she is scared of the risks involved, Pant replies, "The element of danger exists in all professions, we have to be strong and skilled to handle it."

So what does it take to become a pilot?
If you are planning for this career path then make sure that you choose the science stream with physics and maths at the intermediate level. Buckle up and study well because you must score an aggregate of over 50 per cent. "Most of the aspiring pilots opt to go to the Philippines, South Africa, the US or Australia for their pilot training," says Pratham Karanjit, a counsellor at Orbit International Education. 

The duration of pilot training depends on the country and ranges from six months to a year. To receive the pilot certification in Nepal, the course should have at least 200 hours of training.

Unfortunately, scholarships are not usually granted to students in the piloting sector. So it is important to have deep pockets along with the determination and the academic and physical qualification to become a pilot. Courses in the Philippines cost about Rs 3 million, it can cost up to double as much in the US and Australia. Buddha Air's Yashodara Thapa says, "Taking control of the flight is an amazing feeling and there is a certain amount of prestige attached, but one has be financially capable to bear the high costs of learning." However, as a pilot climbs the ladder from a trainee to a co-pilot to finally becoming a captain, the pay cheques and the allowances also become bigger and worth the investment.
 
In Nepal, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for granting flying permits and conducts several examinations for its certification. Becoming a pilot does not end with a single course, training is required to acquire ratings for every different aircraft. So when choosing an institute, make sure that it is recognised by the CAA.

Not just for men

This profession may be traditionally male dominated but that should not discourage women from considering a career in aviation. There are about 300 certified pilots in Nepal and women constitute less than 10 per cent of it. However, things are changing. Women no longer have to be stereotyped into just flight attendants when it comes to jobs in the airlines.

In fact, Yeti Airlines and Buddha Air operate flights where the cockpit crew is all-women and this trend can be expected to catch up as more women join this elite sonority of female aviators. Sabina Shrestha of Yeti Airlines, who was in command of the first ever all-female flight, says, "You have to prove yourself here to gain respect. This is not a profession where women get concessions simply because they are women. You have to show what you are capable of."

Newly trained pilots start their work with the domestic airlines. Nepal is considered one of the most challenging places to fly and thus the air-hour experience that the pilots earn here give them an advantage over others. Further, there are possibilities to join international airlines as well.

So if the roaring sound of an airplane soaring in the sky never fails to make you look up and wish you could be in charge of a flying machine too, then explore the avenues. If flying is your dream and passion, don't settle for anything less.