The recession that has hit various airline companies has now spread to various pilot training institutes in the city as youngsters aspiring to become pilots are now taking a step back and thinking over their decision to study to become commercial airline pilots.

Speaking about the current reversal in trend Air Commodore Ashok Chibbar, CEO of the Blue Diamond Aviation Training Academy, says, "The slump in the aviation field has hit the airline companies hard so it is but natural that allied industries associated with the field will take a hit. As a result, the number of youngsters who wanted to enter the profession has reduced. As compared to last year, the number of students who had enrolled for the pilot training course has reduced."

Last year we had 20 students for the course and this year we have only five students, which show that there is a decrease by almost 75 per cent. However, what is important to note is the fact that earlier only people who were interested in the big bucks that the profession offered used to get into the profession but now even though there is a huge reduction, youngsters who are genuinely interested in becoming commercial airline pilots are going in for the courses, he added.

Ketan Tamhane, director, Pune Branch of Kompass Aviation, says, "With the recession hitting almost all businesses around the world it is but natural that there will be a slowdown in the field. The civil aviation industry too hasn't been spared and the number of students who wanted to pursue a course in pilot training has reduced. As compared to last year 40 students all over India, this year we have about 15-16 students studying for the course."

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