Owing to the introduction of low-cost flights, liberalization in the aviation sector, and entry of private airlines, India’s aviation industry is poised to grow significantly, and that only means excellent career opportunities that will suit many interests and backgrounds––from the most mundane to the most sophisticated and thrilling.

Here are a few job profiles in the aviation sector that you may want to consider.

Cabin Crew/ Flight Attendant

Crew members/attendees are the ones who assist passengers, make calls on behalf of the captain, serve food and drinks, and sell duty-free goods. Although the job is demanding and requires you to be responsible even under adverse flying conditions––opportunity to travel, high emoluments, and the glamour attract young men and women to these jobs.

Prerequisites:

Required educational qualification is 10+2, but the age limit of 27 years allows good scope for those with higher qualifications as well.  Minimum height requirements are 154.5–157.5 cm for women and 163–170 cm for men, these requirements differ from airline to airline; weight should be in proportion to height. Foreign airlines prefer candidates with work experience in customer services. Hospitality (hotel management) training is a good base for cabin crew jobs.

Pilot:

The pilot’s job involves taking on the responsibility for both the aircraft and the safety of the crew and passengers. The job is demanding and working hours are irregular, so it is absolutely important that they maintain physical, mental, and medical fitness. The training is expensive but salary packages offset the expenditure in a matter of months.

Prerequisites:

Becoming a pilot in an airline involves training for the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). Apart from completing plus two with math and physics, you might also have to satisfy the medical standards set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Log on to the DGCA website www.dgca.nic.in for more information.

Air Traffic Controller (ATC)

ATCs are responsible for the safe, orderly, and efficient movement of air traffic in and around airports and the airspace above. They also direct planes efficiently to minimize delays. Some regulate airport traffic through designated airspaces; others regulate airport arrivals and departures. ATCs are recruited by the Airports Authority of India.

Prerequisites:

ATC posts are open to candidates with a 1st Class (50% for SC/ST) engineering degree in Electronics / Tele Communication / Radio Engineering /IT/ Electrical with specialization in Electronics.

Other candidates who can apply are those holding a 1st Class (50% for SC/ST) MSc degree or its equivalent with Wireless Communication, Electronics, Radio Physics, or Radio Engineering as a special subject, OR a 1st Class (50% for SC/ST) postgraduate degree in Physics / Mathematics/ Computer Science or equivalent.

Some of the important skills required are excellent spatial vision, full color vision, and excellent hearing; clear speaking voice and fluent English; ability to work calmly under pressure.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers play a crucial role in the aviation sector as they are the ones who ensure that the aircraft is in a perfect condition before takeoff.

Prerequisites:

The minimum requirement for admission to the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (licensing) course is a pass in class 12 with a 50% aggregate in Physics and Mathematics; or a three-year diploma in engineering; or a higher qualification in science with Physics and Mathematics.

Airport Service Staff

These are ticketing and reservation personnel whom travelers meet even before they fly. They facilitate those who are not comfortable and also oversee emergencies such as technical glitches and other issues.