Aviation Courses - Careers, Salary, Jobs, Scope
Why Aviation?
Considered as a branch of aeronautics, aviation, in short, can be defined as the art of flying. People opting for courses under this field learn about the different tasks involved with flying aircrafts, be it for the military or commercial purpose.
The number of people turning to air travel is on the rise and hence the industry is in need of capable and talented pilots. However, pilots are not the only people employed in the aviation field. It comprises of many responsibilities like customer service, airport management, airplane design etc. Each of the above-mentioned fields has many disciplines and this opens up numerous opportunities for employment.
People employed in this field on an average spend around 45 – 50 hours weekly. Additionally, if you are employed as a pilot or as an air hostess, you might be required to work long and odd hours.
Aviation Courses
Degrees offered at diploma, undergraduate courses, and postgraduate level are as follows:
Course | Duration | Eligibility | Fee |
Bachelor of Business Administration (Aviation Management) | 3 years | 10+2 from a recognized board with minimum 50% marks | Rs 30,000 to 5 lakhs |
B.Sc in Aviation | 3 years | 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics with minimum 50% marks from a recognized board | Rs 1.5 to 2.5 lakhs |
M.Sc in Aviation | 2 years | Graduation or Equivalent | Rs 2,10,000 |
M.B.A in Aviation Management | 2 years | Graduation with atleast 50% marks and two years of experience in aviation sector | Rs 80,000 to 5,00,000 |
Diploma in Aviation Management | 1 year | 10+2 or equivalent | Rs 20,000 to Rs 80,000 |
Jobs and career opportunities in Aviation Industry
Airline pilot or copilot
With the constant increase in aircrafts and airplanes, pilots are needed in huge numbers in the airline’s industry. Nowadays all one needs is training from an FAA certified flight training school. This is one job that is lucrative and has many perks associated with it.
Fresher’s or otherwise known as entry-level pilots are paid Rs. 1,50,000 per month. And as the candidate gains experience, their salary can go as high as Rs. 5,50,000 per month. These numbers vary depending on the firm that you work for.
Aircraft maintenance manager
As the name suggests, they do regular aircraft checks and make sure that all the components and equipments work properly. These professionals need to have managerial and technical skills.
They make sure that their team performs the appropriate tasks efficiently and effectively. This is usually a very important task and hence puts a lot of weight on the maintenance manager to get the job done effectively.
These managers typically earn around Rs. 7,77,000 per annum.
Air traffic controller
This is one profession that demands high mental focus and comes with high levels of stress. However, this job is highly rewarding with a lucrative salary.
The usual set of tasks are controlling ground movements, monitoring takes off and landing of aircrafts, to name a few. Usually, this job involves a steep learning curve.
The earn Rs. 20,000 per month. Additionally, they also get access to many perks and allowances like stress allowance, dearness allowance etc.
Air marshal
These professionals usually are employed by the government to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew and prevent attacks. Additionally, they also inspect the aircrafts to ensure their proper working, inspect airline practices and suggest better methods to ensure the safety of the passengers.
They get paid anywhere between Rs. 37,000 to Rs. 65,000 per month.
Experience and performance play an important role in determining the candidate’s growth and salary.
Avionics Technician
These professionals are tasked with manufacturing and checking the different electronic equipments that are used in an aircraft like the navigator, weather radar system, radio communications and other equipments vital for the proper functioning of the aircraft. They need to solve complex technical and electrical problems.
These technicians get paid Rs. 6,00,000 per annum which increases with experience.
Other opportunities include-
- Aviation Program manager
- Aviation Ground Attendant
- Aerospace project engineer
- Airplane inspector
- Aircraft Mechanic
- Aircraft Loadmaster
Salary in Aviation Industry in India
Being employed in the aviation field is considered to be one of the lucrative jobs. The starting salary is around 4lakhs per annum.
With experience, this value can go as high as 30 lakhs per annum. Performance and experience are two main features that determine a candidate’s salary.
Additionally, the pay also varies from company to company. Usually, the core companies tend to have a different pay scale. In general, companies look for a strong theoretical knowledge and some amount of practical knowledge in fresher’s.
Airports are being upgraded and also privatized and there has been major thrust by the Central and State government. The jobs are opening up rapidly as the airports become bigger and busier. Thus there is demand for students in this sector and the salary is also on the rise for most of these specialized courses.
Recruiters Aviation Recruiters
The list of companies that are looking for talented aviation professionals is as follows:
- Boeing
- Airbus
- Air India
- Aviation India
- Indian Airlines
- Indian Army
- Indigo
- Deccan Aviation
- Paramount Airways
- Spice Jet
- Jet Airways
The above-mentioned companies offer high paying jobs. There are many other companies like Wipro, 2adpro etc who offer moderate pay.
Specializations offered
- Airport Management
As the name suggests, students opting for this specialization, learn about the details and tasks involved in airport management. They learn about the different aspects of airport management like operations, marketing, financial management etc.
This specialization is attracting a lot of attention and has been attributed to the exponential growth in the airline industry.
Upon successful completion, students have a wide variety of choices in front of them like airport management, cabin crew, ticket checking and reservation etc.
- Military Aviation
This specialization focuses on teaching the students all about flying aircrafts for the purpose of national security.
Students learn about using aerial machines for cargo lift off, aerial warfare, and other techniques that are useful in national security.
Students get to learn to fly different types of aircrafts like ground attack aircraft, liaison aircraft, transport aircraft, multirole combat aircraft etc.
- General Aviation
This specialization gives the students a deep understanding of the different civil aviation operations to be followed while flying a private jet, how to fly parachutes and gliders.
Financially, a large chunk of revenue generated by the aviation industry comes from this sector. It also offers a plethora of options for employment as it covers both commercial and non-commercial flying activities.
Students enrolled in this specialization are given a complete understanding of how the industry works with due importance to practical knowledge.
Aviation Management and Operations- This specialization deals with the business aspects of the aviation industry. It involves operations to ensure smooth functioning of airlines and airport along with fleet planning, revenue management, safety enforcement, hiring, and marketing.
Courses & Subjects
The syllabus is structured to ensure that the students get a complete theoretical and practical knowledge of the course. The following is a list of a few important subjects covered based on the course chosen.
Course | Syllabus |
Pilot Training | · Propulsion
· Avionics Systems · Aircraft Systems · Asics of Navigation · In flight navigation · Magnetism · Center of Gravity · Performance of single-engine airplanes · Mass and balance |
Cabin crew training and ticketing management | · Airlines Operations
· Human Resource Management · Aviation Safety Management · Airlines Economics · Risk Management |
Air traffic Control | · Mathematics for engineers
· Problem Solving · Engineering Design · Operations planning · Aerodynamics · Aircraft Systems · Introduction to programming |
Aeronautical Engineering | · Physics
· Mathematics · Engineering Graphics · Basics of electrical engineering · Chemistry and environmental sciences · Fluid Mechanics · Thermodynamics · Elements of Aeronautics · Propulsion · Gas Dynamics |
Airport management | · Business Laws
· Managerial Communication · Accounting for managers · Research methodologies · Air Transport Management · Airport economics · Human Resource Management · Airline marketing and management |
The course content for some course are mentioned below:
Course | Content | |||
B.B.A. in Aviation Management | Sem I | Sem II | Sem III | |
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Sem IV | Sem V | Sem VI | ||
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B.B.A. in Airport Management | Sem I | Sem II | Sem III | |
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Sem IV | Sem V | Sem VI | ||
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B.Sc. in Aviation | Year I | Year II | Year III | |
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M.B.A. in Aviation Management | Sem I | Sem II | ||
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Sem III | Sem IV | |||
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M.Sc. in Aviation | Year I | Year II | ||
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Top colleges offering Aviation courses in India
Below is a list of some of the popular colleges in India offering Aviation courses–
Institute | Address |
Academy of Aviation and Engineering | Bangalore |
Institute of Logistics and Aviation Management | Mumbai |
Wingsss College of Aviation Technology | Pune |
IIFA Lancaster Degree College | Bangalore |
Indus University | Ahmedabad |
Pune Institute of Aviation Technology | Pune |
The Bombay Flying Club | Mumbai |
Let’s look at some renowned colleges that provide this course in detail:
Indian Aviation Academy, Mumbai
When it comes to aviation courses, Indian Aviation Academy should be your first choice.
They have 3 branches spread across Mumbai and are an esteemed institute for aviation technologies. Depending upon the course, the fees can range from Rs. 33,000 to Rs. 2,70,000.
Candidates graduating from the Indian Aviation Academy have a wide range of companies to choose from. Joining the Indian Navy or the Airforce is also a popular choice among graduates of this institute.
They offer a wide range of courses and certifications like
- Certificate in Load Control
- Certificate in Airport Customer Services
- Certificate in airline cabin crew and in-flight services
- Certificate in commercial pilot’s license
- Diploma in airline fares and e-ticketing
 Ahmadabad aviation and aeronautics, Gujarat
This flight school operates from its own hangars located at SV Patel International Airport. This setting gives the students a practical knowledge of what perspires in the industry. They provide mechanisms through which their students get their commercial pilot license and private pilot license.
Based on the course chosen, the fees can range from Rs. 7,00,000 to Rs, 23,00,000.
They have an excellent placement record, with many of their graduates working in leading flight schools and airlines.
AJ Aviation Academy, Bangalore
Established in 2009, they belong to the AJ group of Institution. They bring in innovative methods of teaching and try out different techniques to enhance the capabilities of the students enrolled in their institution.
The fees for an aviation course at this institute is Rs. 2,40,000. The companies that visit AJ Aviation academy include:
- Air India
- Blue Dart Express Limited
- Jet Airways
- Indigo airlines
Courses provided by this university are as follows:
- BA in Aviation Operations
- BA in Aviation management
- Diploma in Airport Management
- Diploma in Professional Ground Staff services
- Diploma in professional cabin crew services
- Diploma in travel and tourism
 Hindustan Aviation Academy
Established in 1983, Hindustan Aviation Academy offers a wide range of courses in the field of aviation and strives to offer the students the best possible education.
The fee for diploma courses is Rs. 90,900. The other courses have a fee of Rs.3,60,000. The average salary of students at this university is Rs.4.5 lakhs with the highest salary being Rs.15 lakhs. 74 companies that visited this campus for the year 2016 – 2017. Students of this institute get placed in companies like-
- ACC
- Accenture
- Wipro
- Indian Navy
- Amazon
A few courses that they offer are as follows:
- Advanced diploma in Aeronautical engineering
- BSc Aircraft Maintenance
- BSc Aeronautical Science and many others.
 Indian Institute of Aeronautics
Indian Institute of Aeronautics is known for its commitment towards its students and campus placements with core aviation companies. It offers a three-year course in aviation maintenance engineering with six months on the job training.
They provide a mix of theoretical and practical knowledge and give the students an opportunity to work with companies like Honeywell, Airforce etc.
The fees for one year in this course is Rs. 1,71,000.
The average salary of students from this institute is Rs. 2,40,000. The companies that visit this campus are as follows:
- TVS Group
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
- National Aeronautics Limited
- Sulzer India Limited
- Larsen and Toubro
- HiTech
The courses offered at this institute are as follows:
- Charted Aerospace Engineering
- Tech in aeronautical engineering
- Two ears Associate degree program in aeronautics
- Sc in aeronautical engineering
Requirements for Aviation course
There are no special requirements to secure an admission into an aviation course. Usually, most colleges require a minimum of 50% in the Class 10th and Class 12th grade.
The requirements vary according to the degree courses and institutes. In most institutes, the requirements are:
- For Undergraduate courses, the candidate must have done 10+2 or Equivalent with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized board in Science stream.
- For Postgraduate courses, the candidate must have done graduation or equivalent.
- For Diploma courses, the candidate must have done 10+2 or equivalent.
Patience, perseverance, grit, and love for flying are personal traits which one must possess. Some colleges do conduct their own set of exams and interviews to select candidates and hence be on a lookout for such exam calls.
Scope of Aviation in India
The scope of this field is endless and ever growing. The mere number of opportunities that a candidate gets is staggeringly huge. If you have good people’s skills then you can get into customer care services, cabin crew handling, ticketing, and reservations.
If you want to go into a more technical domain then you can explore the different electronics related opportunities that this sector offers. The military also offers opportunities for individuals interested in this field. Doing an MBA in aviation management is also seen as the right move and tends to open up numerous opportunities in management field.
This sector is seen as one that helps us break the geographical boundaries and explore the world. This industry has opened up new avenues for tourism and travel. Seen as one of the fastest growing sectors, it has contributed a great deal to our economy and will continue to do so for many years to come.
Current Stats
Currently, India ranks third in the domestic civil aviation market in the world. In 2017 alone, the aviation market has seen a rise in its domestic air traffic by 16 percent. This is a testament to the fact that the number of people preferring to travel by air is on the rise.
There are 450 airports in total in India today and 1091 registered aircrafts. With numerous Government initiatives, this number is only set to increase with time. One of the most popular initiatives is the ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’ (UDAN) which promises to reduce the airfare.
Other notable strides taken in the aviation field are the construction of 18 Greenfield airports and revival of 50 under-served airstrips. Additionally, The Indian Government is also collaborating with other countries to improve their services. The Indian aviation industry is said to be the fastest growing industry in the world and therefore provides a plethora of opportunities.