Aviation and Logistics

About Aviation and Logistics

"I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky." Humming R Kelly's classic still inspires me to this very day. While the iconic song was meant to give us all the general motivation needed in life, it has also inspired many to literally fly. And I mean literally!

So what if life isn't like an Avengers or Justice League movie, boarding an airplane is the closest thing to feeling like a superhero. We may be content by just flying as passengers, but there are many who dream of flying an aircraft, and on a larger scale, have hopes of being a part of the creation of one.

The enormous aviation sector isn't just about the pilots and air hostess or the engineers that meticulously craft and manage a product that was first successfully created by the Wright Brothers in 1903. Right from the management of personnel, ground staff and hospitality to the logistics and supply chains; the aviation industry is a conglomeration of different disciplines.

There's something for everyone, which is why the aviation sector offers a large scope of employment opportunities irrespective of your preference. However, having a preference of operation is a must and to stand a chance of getting a lucrative job, you'd have to be qualified.

There are wide range of courses that train individuals either to become a pilot, cabin crew member or ground staff member or managers and depending on your liking, these are the courses that could kick start your career in the field of aviation.

  • Student Pilot License (6 months) (Certificate)
  • Commercial Pilot License (CPL) (18 months) (Certificate)
  • Private Pilot License (1 year) (Certificate)
  • Air Transport Pilot License (ATPL) Integrated (2-3 years) (Certificate)
  • Diploma in Air Hostess Training (1 year)
  • Diploma in Aviation Hospitality and Travel Management (1 year)
  • Diploma in Airport Management Services (1 year)
  • Diploma in Air Cargo Management (1 year)
  • Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (A.M.E.) (Aviation Stream) (3 years)
  • Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (A.M.E.) (Mechanical Stream) (3 years)
  • Diploma in Aviation Ground Handling (1 year)
  • Diploma in Aviation (1 year)
  • Diploma in Professional Ground Staff Services (1 year)
  • Diploma in Aviation Security (1 year)
  • Diploma in Aviation and Hospitality Management (1 year)
  • Diploma in Airline Ticketing and Hospitality Management (1 year)
  • Diploma in Airline Ticketing and Travel Agency Management (1 year)
  • Diploma in Airline Financial Accounting (1 year)
  • Diploma in Air Cargo and Courier Management (1 year)
  • Diploma in Airline and Tourism Management (1 year)
  • Diploma in Airline Ticketing (6 months)
  • Diploma in Global Aviation and Hospitality Management (1 year)
  • Diploma in Cabin Crew Services (1 year)
  • Diploma in Airlines Management (6 months)
  • Professional in Airport Management and Customer Care (PAMCC) (1 year)
  • International Air Transport Association (IATA) Foundation Diploma in Travel and Tourism (6 months)

Cutoff Marks

Candidate should have completed Class 12. Most courses don't have a specified cut-off, however, in order to become a pilot, an aggregate score of 55% with Science subjects Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics is mandatory.

Verified medical certificates as issued by the DGCA are required before going for a handful of courses.

There are separate set of requirements for Air Hostesses and Pilots which pertain to their medical status. Eye sight (6/6 in both eyes or with 20/20 with aided vision), general physical conditions, durability and endurance are some of the variables that are checked through various mandatory medical tests.

Cut off Marks for Diploma

Average Fees

12,000-1.6 lakhs is the total course fee which would vary from course to course (non-pilot). License courses to become a pilot are way more expensive. For ground classes and exams you would need to shell out at least 1 lakh.

Average Fees for Diploma
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Aviation (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Aviation Technology and Pilot Studies (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Aircraft Maintenance Science (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Aeronautical Science (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Hons.) in Aerospace Engineering (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Hotel Management and Catering Travel Operations (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Travel and Tourism Management (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Air Travel Management (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Aviation (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Aviation Operations (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Airline Management (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Aviation and Travel Tourism (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Airport Management (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Logistics Management (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Tour and Travel Management (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Marketing (3 years)
  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Aerospace Engineering (4 years)
  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Aeronautical Engineering (4 years)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (4 years)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Aerospace Engineering (4 years)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Aeronautical Engineering (4 years)
  • Bachelor of Supply Chain Management (3 years)

Eligibility and Cutoff Marks

For B.Sc. and engineering related courses, a candidate must have cleared Class 12 with an aggregate score of at least 40% (cut-off may differ from institute to institute) and science subjects - Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM).

For management courses, a candidate from any stream needs to have cleared Class 12 with an aggregate score of at least 40%. (Cut-off may differ from institute to institute).

Students going for an engineering degree need to go through JEE Main and JEE Advanced entrance exams. JEE Advanced scores are needed for admissions in any of the IITs while JEE Main is accepted by all of the recognized institutes in India.

The reputed institutes would have their own entrance tests along with a personal interview round.

Cut off Marks for Graduation

Average Fees

The average fees for aviation-centric courses in B.Sc. and BBA is around 18k-2 lakhs per annum.

For B.E. and B.Tech. courses, the fee is approximately 1-2 lakhs a year.

Average Fees for Graduation
  • Post Graduation in Airport Ground Services (1 year)
  • Post Graduation Diploma in Airport Management (1 year)
  • Post Graduation in Airline Ticketing and Hospitality Management (1 year)
  • Post Graduation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (2 years)
  • Post Graduation Diploma in Management (PGDM) (2 years)
  • Post Graduation in Tourism Management (1 years)
  • Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Aviation (2 years)
  • Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Airlines, Tourism and Hospitality Management) (2 years)
  • Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Tourism (2 years)
  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Aviation Management (2 years)
  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Airport Management (2 years)
  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Air Travel Management (2 years)
  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Airport and Airlines Management (2 years)
  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Airline Management (2 years)
  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Logistics Management (2 years)
  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (2 years)
  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Operations Management (2 years)
  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Supply Chain Management (2 years)
  • Master of Engineering (M.E.) in Aeronautical Engineering (2 years)
  • Master of Engineering (M.E.) in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (2 years)
  • Master of Technology (M.Tech.) in Aircraft Design (2 years)
  • Master of Technology (M.Tech.) in Logistics Management (2 years)
  • Master of Technology (M.Tech.) Aerospace Engineering (2 years)

Cutoff Marks

  • Candidate must have completed his graduation with an aggregate score of at least 50%. For engineering courses,a candidate must have completed his or her B.Tech. or B.E. along with GATE, the scores of which are accepted during admissions.
  • In order to get into an M.B.A. programme, candidate must go for any of the certified management entrance tests such as Common Admission Test (CAT), Common Management Entrance Test (CMAT), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).
  • Expect reputed institutes to have a personal interview round after the entrance exams.
Cut off Marks for Post-Graduation

Average Fees

The average course fee for PG Diplomas in aviation is around 20,000-3 lakhs.

Average Fees for Post Graduation
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Aeronautical Engineering (3 years)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Aviation Management (5 years)

Cutoff Marks

A candidate pursuing a Ph.D needs to have a masters degree with a minimum of 55% marks. Submission of National Eligibility Test (NET) scores is mandatory for most of the institutes.

Cut off Marks for PhD

Average Fees

The fees for PhD courses are between 1-5 lakhs per annum.

Average Fees for PhD
  • Certificate in Airport Ground Services (3 months)
  • Certificate in Air Hostess (8 months)
  • Certificate in Aviation and Hospitality Services (4 months)
  • Certificate in Cabin Crew (5 months)
  • Certificate in Instrument Rating (6 weeks)
  • Certificate in Airport Management (6 months)
  • Certificate in Flight Instructor Training (4 weeks)
  • Certificate in Multi Engine Instructor Training (3 years)
  • Certificate in Fares and Ticketing (6 months)
  • Certificate in Travel Management Ground Handling and Computer Reservation System (6 months)
  • Certificate in International Airlines and Travel Management (6 months)
  • Certificate in Flight Radio Telephone Operator's License (6 months)
  • Certificate in Airline Distribution Systems (3 months)
  • Certificate in Radio Telephony Restricted (3 months)

Cutoff Marks

While some of the courses just require a Class 10th pass certificate, a handful would need you to complete Class 12.

Cut off Marks in Post Graduation( for prestigious institutes)

Average Fees

Average fee is around 70,000-1.5 lakh which differs from courses to course.

Average Fees for Graduation

Demand in the last few years

Being the third biggest civil aviation and domestic market in the world, the Indian aviation industry currently needs and will always need extensive amounts of manpower in various departments. A sector that's growing at approximately 20% a year is attracting a lot of attention from young higher secondary pass outs, who view it as a highly profitable career. And it's not a trend that's been on the rise in recent years as it has always been one of the most popular areas to get a professional career going.

With 449 airports and 26 airlines operating in the domestic sector across India in addition to over 5000 international airlines all around the world, the aviation market is a goldmine of job opportunities. This is one of the biggest reasons why all government affiliated and private flying schools are offering a wide range of courses that deal with every aspect of flying - from becoming a pilot, the hospitality services and security to on-ground services, airport maintenance and logistics management.

One of the reasons why many have taken a liking for aviation is the fact that most profiles excluding engineering-related jobs don't require a bachelor's degree, as training and experience holds more importance. However, having a degree obviously gives you an upper hand over other candidates during the tedious process of searching for jobs.

The trend in recent years has seen students opt for management courses in aviation and airport operations as the opportunities are growing with each passing day. However, it's not always rosy and smooth-sailing in the aviation sector.

Major airlines have reported heavy losses over the years and continue to do, forcing countless job cuts and cost-cutting measures that have instilled a negative image regarding the civil aviation sector in the minds of those on the cusp of choosing it as a choice of profession. On the flipside, the emergence of new private airlines such as Vistara has considerably eased the situation.

Gone are the days when Tom Cruise from Top gun was the first person that would come to your mind when somebody mentioned the word "pilot". The stereotype of a cockpit being dominated by the men while the cabin crew was reserved for pretty women has well and truly been proven to be inaccurate. With 12% of the members of the fairer sex accomplishing their dreams of flying high, India statistically has the highest number of women pilots in the world.

As repeated innumerable times in this article, though, the vast aviation sector isn't just about the pilots as there are different areas of operations that offer massive scope for remarkable professional development.

Future Scope

  • With a market contribution of $2.7 Trillion which accounts for 3.5% of the total GDP of India, the aviation sector creates roughly 9.9 million jobs throughout the country. That figure is expected to snowball in the coming years as incoming investment is bound to multiply.
  • There are a host of jobs to choose from, beginning with the most sought after ones such as that of a pilot, air hostess, cabin crew member, aeronautical engineer, air traffic controller, air safety inspector and ground crew member. There are also jobs such as a flight instructor and Aero IT specialist, the latter of which deals with the connectively systems and networks on airplanes. The options are immeasurable and so is the scope for growth in each of the mentioned profiles.
  • An entry-level pilot can take home a handsome 1.5 lakhs per month and the figure would go up to 6-10 lakhs a month after a certain level of seniority is gained along with the designation of being a captain. Air Hostesses in domestic airlines get around 20,000-40,000 which goes up to 80,000 once the post of head attendant is attained. For international airlines, an Air Hostess can start at 50,000 and go up to 2 lakhs a month after years of experience.
  • Cabin Crew attendants pocket around 30,000-40,000 as a fresher which will rise to 90,000 for senior cabin crew attendants. All of the aforementioned jobs come with attractive incentives depending on total flying time being clocked. Pilots and captains can get a few extra lakhs by logging in more flying time in a month while attendants can get up to a lakh. Ground staff crew members start off at a meager 15,000-25,000 a month which goes up to 40,000-50,000 per month depending on the experience and qualification.
  • Aeronautical and aircraft engineers' starting salary is around 7 lakhs per annum which increases to around 12-14 lakhs and could go even higher as experience is gathered.
  • The hefty pay packages more than makes up for the burdensome academic charges incurred. Also, the added perks in the aviation sector make it even more appealing that it already is.
  • Pilots and cabin crew attendants get the opportunity to travel the world while also getting accommodation and medical benefits from the airlines. Add to that the enormous scope of possibilities abroad - wherein the pay is unsurprisingly double as compared to the Indian market. To put it bluntly, there is a truckload of money and the job satisfaction to compliment an overflowing bank account.
  • However, it doesn't come that easy. A rigorous education process is just the beginning of a journey that requires high levels of adaptability, precision and dedication. Don't let the recent slump in the aviation sector detract you from trying your luck as every domain goes through a bad phase before the boom happens. The same can be said for civil aviation as when the boom happens in this case, sky is indeed the limit.