The Ministry of Civil Aviation this week informed the Parliament that the share of women in India’s pilot workforce is 15 per cent. Out of 17,726 registered pilots, 2,764 are women, a number that exceeds the global average by 10 per cent. Reportedly, the news comes at a time when the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association accused the government’s Air India of discrimination against women pilots.
Responding to a query at the Rajya Sabha, VK Singh, the minister of state, Ministry of Civil Aviation said that globally, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, around 5 per cent of pilots are women. In India, the share is higher and at 15 per cent.
The minister also highlighted the measures taken by the government to facilitate pilot training in the country. “The Ministry of Civil Aviation and its associated organisations have taken a number of steps to promote training of pilots in the country. These include issuing award letters for nine new Flying Training Organisations (FTO) at five airports of Airports Authority of India (Belagavi, Jalgaon, Kalaburagi, Khajuraho and Lilabari) with rationalised land charges etc., digitisation of approval processes at the regulator DGCA and greater empowerment of Flying Instructors etc.," Singh said.
"These measures are likely to enhance the flying hours at FTOs and the number of Commercial Pilot Licenses issued per annum. These will benefit all aspiring pilots, including women pilots," he further added.