More Women Pilots For India
India's airline regulatory body Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently shared statistics suggesting arise in the number of women pilots in India. In 2023, India witnessed a significant 22 per cent surge in the issuance of commercial pilot licenses, with 18.1 per cent being granted to women pilots. This marks a substantial 22.5 per cent growth from the previous year. A decade-high of 1,622 commercial pilot licenses were issued in 2023, up from 1,165 licenses in 2022. This increase signifies a decade-high, continuing the trend from the prior year. Currently, about 14 per cent of scheduled airline employees in India are women pilots.
Image used for representational purposes only.
Aviation Revival
This rise in licenses reflects the revival of India's civil aviation sector post-pandemic. Major carriers like Air India and IndiGo have made substantial aircraft orders, with Air India committing to 470 aircraft worth around $34 billion, and IndiGo preparing for the delivery of approximately 500 jets valued at $50 billion from Airbus.
Despite the increased licenses, the Ministry of Civil Aviation highlighted a scarcity of commanders for specific aircraft types, leading to the utilization of foreign pilots through the Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization (FATA) program.
Leading In Gender Equality In Aviation
Earlier in 2023, the DGCA also revealed that 15 per cent of the country's pilots are women, a figure three times higher than the global average of 5 per cent. In 2021, a total of 244 pilots were recruited by various Indian scheduled airlines. Projections suggested that India might require around 1,000 pilots annually for the next five years. Presently, approximately 10,000 pilots, including 67 foreign nationals, are employed by various domestic airlines in India, according to DGCA.
India led in gender equality in the aviation industry even back in 2021, with women comprising 12.4 per cent of pilots. This figure was higher than other countries like Ireland (9.9 per cent), South Africa (9.8 per cent), and Australia (7.5 per cent), as reported by the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. The Indian Air Force initiated the recruitment of women pilots for helicopters and transport aircraft in the 1990s, with Nivedita Bhasin becoming the youngest commercial airline captain in the world in 1990.
Nivedita Bhasin, the youngest commercial airplane captain in the world | Image Source: Thebetterindia.com
Studies on aviation safety have indicated that female pilots tend to have lower accident rates compared to their male counterparts. Reports like "Gender Differences in General Aviation Crashes" and "Women in Combat Arms" highlighted this trend, noting that women pilots operate aircraft more safely, with lower accident rates despite accounting for a smaller percentage of pilots.
Several Indian airlines have implemented policies to support and retain female talent. For example, IndiGo provides flexibility for women pilots and crew during pregnancy, offering 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, along with childcare facilities. Vistara offers temporary ground roles for pregnant pilots and cabin crew until they can resume flying duties.