CAREER HOTLINE
Future in flying

Q I am in Class X and wish to become a pilot. Can you please tell me about the eligibility criteria and selection procedure?

A If you are 16 years old, and have passed Class X, you can enrol for the Student Pilot Licence (SPL), which is similar to a learner’s licence for driving a car. You have to take an objective-type test that will assess your general awareness, reasoning power and analytical abilities followed by a medical examination. This is not a major hurdle unless you have some serious ailment or handicap.

Eyesight: 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other, correctable to 6/6. A security clearance and a bank guarantee are also necessary.

Alternatively, you could directly enrol for the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) once you have cleared Class XII and are 17 yrs old. This involves taking an exam conducted by DGCA consisting of theory papers on air navigation, aviation meteorology, air regulation and technical aspects.

However, the PPL is not mandatory. You can even obtain a CPL straight after your SPL if you are 18 and have passed Class XII (PCM).

To obtain a CPL, you have to clear theory papers on the same five topics but at a more advanced level. You should have clocked 250 hours of flying experience including solo and cross-country, and day and night landing.

The training schedule for PPL and CPL is of six months and 15 months, respectively.

A commercial pilot becomes a senior commercial pilot upon upgrading his flying hours. After clocking a total of 1,500 flying hours, you can qualify for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL).

A word of caution: Training to be a pilot is an expensive proposition. Although you will earn handsomely, you must be prepared for the steep initial cost of training that can push you into a financial air pocket, irrespective of whether you train in India or abroad.

The fees at the premier flying school, IGRUA, Rai Bareilly, add up to a hefty Rs 20 lakh for CPL +PPL (2 yrs) for which the eligibility is Class XII (PCM) and an SPL. The 18-mth CPL course for those who already have a PPL costs Rs 12 lakh plus.

Moreover, a pilot must be absolutely fit at every stage. Even a minor health blip can halt your career mid-flight. Just be sure that the flying school is recognised by the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Of course, if you would like to be a pilot in the Indian Air Force, you can do so by taking the NDA entrance exam after Class XII (Phys & Math). In which case not only is your training absolutely free, but instead you will be paid a decent stipend throughout your three years of training at the National Defence Academy, followed by specialised training at the Air Force Academy. After which, you will be commissioned as a Flying Officer and posted as a Pilot at an Air Force Station.

For details, log on to http://careerairforce.nic.in.

For the complete list of DGCA-approved flying schools, log on to: www.dgca.nic.in.

Q I am a final-year B.Sc student. Some of my classmates and I are interested in joining the defence services. What are the various openings for women science graduates?

A Although women have been traditionally recruited in the armed forces in the medical and nursing corps, today the Indian Army offers several other openings for women. There are a greater number of women in non-combatant areas in the Army. Women graduates are recruited only in the Short Service Commission for a period of seven years, which is extendable to 10 years (with the exception of those joining AFMC).

Indian Army Direct Entry for Women Graduates & Postgraduates: Women Special Entry Scheme (Officer) Non-technical entry jobs are in the Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Army Intelligence Corps, Signals Admin. Officer, Engineering Adm Officer (Technical Services require an engineering degree)
You will be appointed as a Lieutenant on completion of training.

Details: www.joinindianarmy.nic.in

Indian Air Force: Direct Entry for Women Graduates in Flying Branch (Transport & Helicopter). You will be appointed as a Flying Officer in the Short Service Commission on completion of training.

Elig: B.SC (Phys/Math) or B.SC (Gen) with Phys and Maths.

Selection: SSB Tests/Interview, Medical Exam, PABT.

Direct Entry For Science Graduates in Air Traffic Control

Elig: BSc Degree (min 2nd div)

Direct Entry for Graduates in Ground Duty Branches (Admin & Logistics Br., Education Br (SSB)

Details: www.careerairforce.nic.in

Armed Forces Medical Service: MBBS at AFMC.

Elig: BSc (with any two from Phys, Chem, Biol)

You will be appointed as a Permanent Commissioned Officer in the AFMS on completion of the course.

Details: www.afmcpune.com

Direct Entry For Postgraduates in Education Branch: You will be appointed Sub-Lieutenant (Short Service Commission) on completion of training.

Direct Entry For Graduates In Logistics Branch

You will be appointed Sub-Lieutenant (Short Service Commission) on completion of training.

Details: www.nausena-bharti.mil.in

Medical course in AFMC

Q I have passed Class XII (Science) and I want to pursue medicine from AFMC, Pune. Can you please tell me the eligibility and other details? Are there any scholarships that I can avail of?

A The Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, is a reputed medical school, ranked next to AIIMS and Maulana Azad Medical College in the pecking order. The AFMC conducts an all-India entrance exam for admission to its MBBS course in May.

Eligibility is Class XII with Eng & PCB (1st attempt, 60 per cent) & Maths in Class 10. Age: 17-22 years.

Even B.Sc graduates below the age of 24 with any two of the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry or Biology (Botany/Zoology) are eligible.

On qualifying the written exam, you will be called for an interview. If you are selected, you will have to execute a bond to serve as a Commissioned Officer in the Armed Forces Medical Services on completion of the course.

Only 50 per cent medical cadets are granted Permanent Commission. The remaining 50 per cent are granted Short Service Commission (SSC) after the final MBBS exam. The choice of commission is based on merit-cum-option.

SSC officers must serve the Armed Forces Medical Services for 7 years. On admission to the college, you have to execute a bond to this effect for an amount of Rs. 15 lakh.

The Government provides free accommodation and rations, second-class railway fare from college to home and back during vacations, a book subsidy of Rs. 8,000, uniform allowance of Rs. 2000 and laundry allowance of Rs. 500 p.a.

The college is fully residential with hostels for girls and boys. The annual intake is 130.

While the notification appears in Dec/Jan, the Test is held in May/June.

For further information, log on to: www.afmcpune.com.

Pol Science prospects

Q My daughter is interested in doing MA in Political Science. I would like to know what are the job prospects in this field?

A With A Masters in Political Science the following options will be open for your daughter.

She could opt for teaching Political Science (or the subject of specialisation) at the college or university level (upon qualifying the National Eligibility Test (NET), conducted by the UGC for central/state universities or the State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) for state universities).

The Civil Services in general, and the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in particular, is another popular option for students of Political Science.

If she has a flair for writing, she could also become a political analyst for a newspaper, news-related website or TV.

Eligibility for MCA

Q I will be completing B.Sc (Chemistry Hons) in a month, after which I wish to do MCA. Can you please tell me about the eligibility criteria, particularly the level of mathematics required?

A The typical eligibility for doing MCA (as mandated by the AICTE) is a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with maths in plus two. Most universities require minimum 50 per cent aggregate, although some universities require 60 per cent.

Admission to MCA courses in Indian universities is through a common entrance exam (AIMCET) that tests your basic ability for logical and analytical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, higher mathematics (+2 and B.Sc level), English comprehension and basic computer awareness.

Not only is numerical ability a vital prerequisite to make it to a good MCA programme, it is also an important constituent of the MCA course .

Scope of English

Q I am doing my Bachelor’s in English (H). Can you please tell me the prospects in this subject after graduation and postgraduation?

A After graduation or postgraduation in English (H), you could either take up teaching in schools (after doing B.Ed) or join the print or electronic media as a journalist, web content creator, compere, announcer, newsreader, anchorperson, scriptwriter, copywriter in an advertising agency, technical writer, public relations executive, etc. Creative writing is yet another option. With the proliferation of the media, there is a growing demand for those who can communicate with style, ease and competence.

An additional course in PR, journalism, advertising or mass communication would give you the necessary professional edge.

Those with a good command over the language, particularly in spoken English and basic computer skills can also look at openings in leading call centres.

(The list of courses is not exhaustive)

— Pervin Malhotra

Please send in your query, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers@tribunemail.com