Kiwis want to set up pilot training schools

New Zealand plans to foray into the Indian aviation sector with ground schools for pilot training.

Representatives of the New Zealand aviation industry, who visited the country along with Prime Minister H.E. John Key last month, met heads of major private airlines and the officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to float the idea of a joint venture between the two countries to open schools for training pilots.

“The ground schools we are planning to set up would bring in an efficient system of pilot training in India. It would be transparent and help in weeding out the problem of fake pilots. We have spoken to the representatives of major private airlines as well as the DGCA. If all goes well then in the next two years we would be opening up ground schools in various parts of India,” said John Nicholson, chief executive of Aviation New Zealand.

According to the representatives, New Zealand caters to more than 100 pilots from India who go for commercial pilots’ licence training courses.

However, experts from the industry feel differently about the venture. “India has good ground schools which are on a par with and even better than those in other countries. Schools here are enough to fulfil the needs of state-run as well as private airlines. New Zealand’s move is just a method to make its presence felt in the Indian market,” said R.N. Pathak, former director of Indian Airlines.

Kiwis want to set up pilot training schools