“Give me wings and I shall fly” Anon

While the WWW, stakes claim to have shrunk the globe, there is yet another equally strong contender: The aviation industry or simply put- the magnificent men and women with their flying machines.

For a quick reality check, it’s best to ‘rewind’ time. A decade back, air travel was clearly for the rich and famous and railways, the travel -horse of the common man. Today, the scenario is completely different. Low cost airlines, apex fares have brought in a higher degree of consumerism. They have been able to bridge the aspiration of the burgeoning middle class by making it accessible and affordable and thus offering a terrific value proposition to the traveler. The numbers of overseas travelers are testimony to this age of flying high!

While on one hand the passenger has benefited, on the other hand, the travel revolution has spurred a lot of opportunity both for airlines to mushroom and also the need for qualified aviation staff. 

The Aviation Industry: On the runway of growth

India's strong economic growth has boosted the market for air travel.
Flying has become more affordable in India, where the number of people traveling by air in a year is nearly equal to the number of people traveling by train on a day. India recorded a 29% growth in air passenger traffic in last year alone. There are six to seven million air passengers in the country, and industry watchers say their numbers could easily rise nearly tenfold in next five years. This has meant a revival in the entire tourism and aviation industries, with increasing job opportunities for trained flying professionals not only with domestic airlines, but also international ones. While the Civil Aviation sector has witnessed rapid expansion, there is a considerable shortage of trained pilots. Of all jobs in aviation, that of the pilot is possibly the most admired, and therefore, the most sought after. This isn't only because of the handsome salaries pilots earn, but also due to the sheer excitement of controlling a machine that soars like a bird in the sky.

Over the years, Aviation has become a career option for women too!  Besides the traditional air hostess' role, it is as pilots that a large number of women have already made their presence felt. Truly they have taken off and are determined to touch the sky!