Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai. India has overtaken America, considered the world's richest country, in terms of the number of female pilots flying aircraft. According to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, India has the highest percentage of female pilots globally. 12.4% of all female pilots are in India. The US, the largest aviation market in the world, accounts for 5.5% of female pilots and 4.7% in the UK. According to a report, hiring more women could help airlines overcome the workforce. The Boeing Company estimates that the world will need more than 6 million new pilots over the next two decades. Hiring more women could help airlines address staff shortages that are disrupting travel.

There were derth of women pilots

Today India may be an example for the world in the case of women pilots, but three decades ago, there was huge dearth. For example, in 1989, India's Nivedita Bhasin became the world's youngest commercial airline captain. Bhasin says that when she became a pilot, the crew used to request her to get into the cockpit as soon as possible, so that the passengers would not know that their plane was being flown by a female pilot and they would panic.

Air wing formed in NCC to prepare women pilots

Leading pilots and people like Nivedita Bhasin say that from outreach programs to better corporate policies and strong family support, Indian women are being encouraged. Many Indian women were drafted to fly through an air wing of the National Cadet Corps formed in 1948.

Students are trained to operate microlight aircraft

Through this, students are trained to operate microlight aircraft. Some state governments are providing subsidies to make costly commercial pilot training more accessible to women. Companies like Honda Motor give full scholarships for 18 months courses in an Indian flying school and help them to get jobs. In addition, there are many special training programs.