Upgrade skills to tap opportunity in aerospace: BCIC

Industry body Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) on Friday urged stakeholders to take up skilling initiatives to capitalise on growing opportunity in Indian aviation and aerospace industry.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the seminar on Impact of Skill Development on Creation of World Class Aerospace and Aviation Ecosystem, Chairman of BCICI Expert Committee on Aerospace and Aviation Ashok Saxena said the industry is facing huge shortage of skilled workforce and there is a need to reskill employees to meet growing demands of the industry.

"India requires 5 lakh skilled manpower within five years to take on the opportunities in the aviation and aerospace industry. This is necessitated both by defence and civil aviation reqiurments," he said.

The one day seminar was organised by BCIC and aerospace technologists' body SIATI with the support of Aerospace & Aviation Sector Skill Council (AASSC).

"We should not buy humans for doing work. They should be evolved over a period of time with requisite skill set by skilling themselves on shop floors and in simulated environment," he said.

Global aerospace major Boeing has projected that it expects a demand for 2,100 new aircraft in India, valued at $290 billion, over the next 20 years. India is now raked ninth largest civil aviation market in the world and is projected to become the third largest by 2020.

"Besides replacement of existing 11 squadrons, India's defence forces require more than 10,000 helicopters and thousands of civilian aircraft within next five years. India’s aerospace and defence sector is projected to reach $ 70 billion by 2020 from its present size of just $ 1.7 billion," Saxena said.

The event also witnessed participation from industry leaders, trainers and faculty members, students, working professionals, consultants and government officials.