New Delhi, July 21
The share of women pilots in the overall pool of pilots is significantly higher in India than the global average, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said in response to a question that according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, about 5 percent of pilots globally are women, but in India the share of women pilots is more than 15 percent.
The ministry said that organizations associated with it have taken several steps to increase the number of pilots, both female and male, in the country. This includes issuance of award letters by the Airports Authority of India for nine new Flying Training Organization (FTO) slots at five airports Belagavi, Jalgaon, Kalaburagi, Khajuraho and Lilabari in the first phase and six more slots at five airports in the second phase. Bhavnagar, Hubli, Cuddapah, Kishangarh and Salem.
“These measures are likely to increase the flying hours in FTOS and the number of commercial pilot licenses issued annually. In addition, Women in Aviation International, India chapter organizes awareness programs across the country to encourage women aviation professionals with special focus on young schoolgirls, especially from low-income families,” the ministry said.