With the airports going international in many parts of the country and with tier-two cities also coming up with airports, the aviation scenario in the country looks truly upbeat. But is it as rosy as it seems?

Some disturbing facts emerged when Deccan Herald’s N Niranjan Nikam caught up with Capt Dilip Kataria, who was the pioneer of feeder services in India chartering non-schedule operations under the name of Golden Sun Aviation out of Mumbai. When the Vayudoot came, he was asked to stop the operations. Later, he left for United States  and set up the Lotus Air Enterprise, USA.

In this free wheeling interview, Capt Kataria, a dual citizen, talks about the aviation scenario in the country, the shortage of pilots and the role of Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Deccan Herald: As an aircraft distributor/representative what do you think is the aviation industry scenario like in the country, especially in the light of the booming Indian economy?

Dilip Kataria: The aviation industry in the country is no doubt booming. But the problem is it will be hard to sustain the boom. Because we are really short of pilots, there are no fully established training schools. As of today if my figures are correct there are 600 expatriates flying our airlines. Aircraft are available, but do we have pilots.

DH: What is the Director General of Civil Aviation doing about this as it is the one that controls all these?

DK: It is creating hurdles instead of simplifying procedures. For instance,  every pilot has to undergo flight medicals. It is under the Air Force. It has only two locations--one, CME in Delhi and the other, IMA in Bangalore. There are 3,000 pilots in the civil market and 1,000 pilots in the Air Force but there are only two boards to conduct the medical exams.

As of today it takes one year for a pilot to get a medical date for a commercial pilot from overseas. Even for renewal of our pilot licenses we have to go there. It took me nine days for my medical to be completed. In FA (Federal Aviation of USA) it takes just two hours to complete a medical.

DH: Are there any restrictions for Indian pilots?

DK: Foreign pilots with a foreign license can fly without doing any tests but pilots born in India with foreign license cannot fly in the country. They have to appear for the tests. Do you know the statistics? If 1000 pilots appear for these tests, only three will pass. 

Even though we are certified overseas we cannot fly here. They ask us tough silly questions. Who puts these questions, the babus and not pilots. Air Force pilots are finding it difficult to get licenses. Imagine foreigners can fly on restricted areas but not Indians.

DH: Are there people buying aircraft because in the United States and developed countries many own aircrafts, it is said.

DK: Because of the open sky policy  people are taking advantage. There are industrialists who can afford to have aircrafts. But the Director General of Civil Aviation is not allowing them to. There are two areas that can lead to a country moving faster.

One is communication which we have achieved and the other is transportation and aviation is part of transportation. Hence rules should be made easier.

Runways are not standard. This is because there are several departments involved. Atlanta is one of the busiest airports in the world but everything runs so smoothly there. In Malaysia, there is a train which directly takes you inside the airport terminals. Our leaders and ministers go and see all this but they do nothing.

DH: Is buying aircraft easy in our country?

DK: No and yes. It is not possible to buy aircraft paying huge interest rates. Many companies want to buy aircraft. Unless they have proper credentials it is difficult. The cost of an aircraft ranges from Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 45 crore.

Of course, there are second hand aircraft available in the used market. It costs between Rs 25 lakh to Rs 4 crore.
The Director General of Civil Aviation has stipulated that aircraft which are less than 12 years old can only fly.

That clears out every other buyer because if the aircraft is in very good condition as it will not have flown much one cannot buy it because it is more than 12 years old.

DH: The defence buys a lot of aircraft as their operations are more. What is the procedure?

DK: I do not want to comment on this because it is defence related. However, all I can say is that many of the aircraft they buy like Jaguars, Hornets, Avro 748, Dorniers are obsolete. 

DH: Being a pilot yourself,  where do the pilots stand with so much of competition?

DK: As I said earlier, it is really tough. My daughter has appeared for the pilot exams and she is still awaiting her exam results. Tata Consultancy Services has been asked to screen the papers. Why do we need this?

DH: What is the future of aviation industry like?

DK: I do not read horoscopes. But it does not look good at all. Unless the situation of the pilots is tackled it looks very bleak. There are Indian pilots with foreign licenses who want to come. Infrastructure has to be improved.
More airports should be there and the Director General of Civil Aviation should relax its rules. Only then will the aviation industry look up.